The Atelier DeLibro can be helpful in many situations in order to assist for the conservation of an artefact or a collection.  We can be consulted for preservation and collection assessment, curative conservation, conservation treatment and professional training.

 


PREVENTIVE CONSERVATION


The Atelier DeLibro can assist with the assesment of storage facilities (building, furniture, air conditioning and ventilation, environmental conditions), the organization and inventory of a collection (display, packaging, storage materials, software), emergency interventions (fire, flooding, mould and/or pest contamination, etc.).

The Atelier can also intervent for cleaning, packing and storing artefacts, assist or be in charge of the full organization for your collection, working at the studio or in situ as required.

See the Portfolio to get an idea of previous works realized by the Atelier.

 


CONSERVATION TREATMENT


The Atelier DeLibro can visit you and establish a free quote for the eventual treatment; but more than a cost estimate, the quote is generally a documentation of the item explaining the suggested treatment.


The conservator composes a technical record of the object, containing structural and material informations on the item. Historical details are also added to this form, as the author, the date, the historical context, the provenance, etc. That is what we call the identity of the object.

Knowing the composition and the provenance of the document, the conservator is able to describe the condition of the item and its different elements: level of degradation, identification of the damages and their causes. From this study, the conservator can deduce an adapted treatment proposal.

From this preliminary analysis, we establish a treatment proposal. that During the intervention, there is a possibility that the treatment slightly changes from what was previewed in the quote. In this case, the client will be informed; the conservator’s work is always realized in collaboration with the client, in order to make him concerned by the conservation of his object.


When we are in charge of treating a document, the work is composed by different steps:

Cleaning of each element of the document

Mechanical cleaning by brushing and gumming or aqueous bath with various solutions or water.

Preliminary analysis

Test of pH of the paper and different elements of the item; identification and analysis of materials; test of solubility of the inks, necessary before a aqueous treatment.

Chemical treatment

Disinfection, if the document is contaminated; de-acidification if the pH of the paper is acidic, by bath or by spraying.

Conservation of the elements and materials constituting of the document

This can take place in situ or by taking off the elements from the object: Examples: reinforcing tears, infills, flattening, etc.

Conservation of the original structure of the document

Sewing of the body of the book, realization of a full binding or a cover identical to the original, etc.

Toned if necessary

Colours of the added materials tinted if necessary (for aesthetic in general). The colour is added with a reversible method (watercolour, gouache, etc.) and always one tone under the color of the original.

Chemise or conservation box for the storage of the item

Keeping the document protected from the light in a made to measure chemise or box is a safe way of storing the document, better protected from climate changes and external aggression as manipulation for instance.

Redaction of a well-detailed conservation report

The report contains a technical, material and historical description of the document and the detailed process of intervention (products and methods used for the treatment) documented with photographs. The report is also a guidance for the owner to know how to behave in order to guarantee the good conservation of the document.

Each document is unique for the conservator and the treatment applied can be very different depending on the condition and the identity of the document. The intervention is neither automatic nor systematic. The list above is only indicative and we cannot guarantee that the treated document will receive all these interventions. The quote is made for getting the opportunity to the conservator to observe carefully the item and to adapt his intervention to the real condition and needs of the document.

See the Portfolio to get an idea of previous works realized by the Atelier.

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PROFESSIONAL TRAINING


The Atelier offers professional trainings for collection staff in order to unable the people in charge to manipulate and care for the collection ensuring its good conservation. This can be set up as workshops for a few days on a specific subject (manipulation, pest management, packaging, etc.) or as private training for one or two persons.

See the Portfolio and the Blog to get an idea of previous works realized by the Atelier.