Mounting Fans – Don’t Get in a Flap
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Yuki Burt
Yuki Burt graduated as a conservator in 1989 and has worked as a conservator and restorer of decorative arts to the present day. She spent six months as an intern at The Fan Museum in 1990 and after a few months’ break has worked as a freelance conservator with the museum ever since. During that time she has conserved in excess of 1,500 fans from collections all over Europe, advised on fan conservation and has written a booklet giving guidance on the preservation of fans.
Abstract
Over the centuries, fans have been produced in a large range of shapes, styles, sizes and a variety and combination of materials. Each one, therefore, requires its own tailor-made mount, as poor display can cause severe damage. Long term display or storage in the open position, for instance, can lead to a fan becoming ‘set’ in that position, and if it can no longer be closed, its integrity is compromised. This article outlines some of the likely weaknesses of fans and the way in which they can deteriorate if not properly supported while on display. The vulnerabilities inherent in fans with a paper element are, more often than not, equally applicable to those incorporating other materials such as vellum or textiles. An understanding of the potential causes of degradation will guide good mount design and display practices.
Zusammenfassung
Hinweise zur Montage von Fächern
Im Laufe der Jahrhunderte wurden Fächer in einer Vielzahl von Formen, Ausführungen, Größen, Materialien und Materialkombinationen hergestellt. Deshalb muss das Montagesystem an jeden Fächer angepasst werden, denn eine schlechte Montage kann zu schwerwiegenden Schäden führen. Langzeitausstellungen, aber auch die dauerhafte Aufbewahrung in geöffneter Position können dazu führen, dass sich der Fächer in dieser Position „setzt“. Wenn ein Fächer nicht mehr geschlossen werden kann, hat er seine funktionelle Unversehrtheit eingebüßt. In diesem Beitrag werden einige Schwachstellen von Fächern und daraus resultierende Schadensbilder beschrieben, die aus einem schlechten Montagesystem in Ausstellungssituationen resultieren. Wenngleich vor allem Papierfächer und ihre inhärenten Probleme beschrieben werden, ist es doch zulässig, Rückschlüsse auf andere Materialien, z.B. Pergament und Textil zu ziehen. Ein Verständnis für die Entstehung von Schadensbildern hilft bei der Gestaltung des Montage- und Ausstellungsdesigns.
Résumé
Montage d’éventails – Pas de panique
Au cours des siècles les éventails ont été produits dans une vaste gamme de formes, styles, tailles ainsi qu’avec une grande variété et combinaisons de matériaux. Chacun, par conséquent, est susceptible d’exiger un système de montage sur mesure car un mauvais montage peut causer de graves dommages. L’exposition sur le long terme ou le stockage en position ouverte par exemple, peuvent avoir pour conséquence de « fixer » l’éventail dans cette position, et si celui-ci ne peut plus être refermé son intégrité en est compromise. Cet article décrit quelques-unes des faiblesses vraisemblables des éventails et la manière dont ils peuvent se détériorer s’ils ne sont pas correctement soutenus lors de leur exposition. Les vulnérabilités inhérentes aux éventails comprenant un élément de papier sont, le plus souvent, identiques à ceux comprenant des matériaux tels que le vélin ou des tissus. Une compréhension des causes potentielles de dégradation entrainera, on l’espère, de bonnes pratiques de conception de systèmes de montage et d’exposition.
About the author
Yuki Burt graduated as a conservator in 1989 and has worked as a conservator and restorer of decorative arts to the present day. She spent six months as an intern at The Fan Museum in 1990 and after a few months’ break has worked as a freelance conservator with the museum ever since. During that time she has conserved in excess of 1,500 fans from collections all over Europe, advised on fan conservation and has written a booklet giving guidance on the preservation of fans.
Acknowledgements
The author wishes to thank Mrs Hélène Alexander MBE, Director and Keeper of the Collection at The Fan Museum and Jacob Moss, Curator of The Fan Museum.
Suppliers
Volet stands from The Fan Museum, 12 Crooms Hill, Greenwich, London SE10 8ER
©2016 by De Gruyter
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Conservation Treatment of Samuel Holland’s Map of St John’s Island, 1765
- XL to XXL: Seeking Solutions for Transport, Exhibition and Storage of Charles Le Brun’s Cartoons
- Honeycomb Panels for Treatment and Vertical Storage of Large Paper Objects
- Large Custom Mount for a Drawing on Tracing Paper
- A Mounting Support Construction for a Paper-Caché Bust
- Ronald by Franz West. Mounting of a Three-Dimensional Papier-mâché Object
- Peep Shows on Display: Mounting Paper Theatres for Exhibitions
- Mounting Fans – Don’t Get in a Flap
- The Viennese Croÿ Albums: Options and Decisions Leading to the Conservation and Remounting of a Convolute of Double-Sided Gouache Paintings on Parchment
- Of Earth and Sky: A Pair of Ming Hanging Scrolls, from Past Repairs to Present Conservation
- Reframing Magna Carta – Comprehensive Planning and Pragmatic Outcomes
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Conservation Treatment of Samuel Holland’s Map of St John’s Island, 1765
- XL to XXL: Seeking Solutions for Transport, Exhibition and Storage of Charles Le Brun’s Cartoons
- Honeycomb Panels for Treatment and Vertical Storage of Large Paper Objects
- Large Custom Mount for a Drawing on Tracing Paper
- A Mounting Support Construction for a Paper-Caché Bust
- Ronald by Franz West. Mounting of a Three-Dimensional Papier-mâché Object
- Peep Shows on Display: Mounting Paper Theatres for Exhibitions
- Mounting Fans – Don’t Get in a Flap
- The Viennese Croÿ Albums: Options and Decisions Leading to the Conservation and Remounting of a Convolute of Double-Sided Gouache Paintings on Parchment
- Of Earth and Sky: A Pair of Ming Hanging Scrolls, from Past Repairs to Present Conservation
- Reframing Magna Carta – Comprehensive Planning and Pragmatic Outcomes
