 If you are rearranging rooms or moving, be sure you are properly handling your furniture. As with all objects, the greatest chance of damage comes when an item is being moved. Where nitrile gloves to protect the finish surface from oils in your hands. Furniture should never be pulled, pushed, or dragged, as this can strain joints and cause breaks. Be sure there is a clear path to the item’s new location. Using a cart or flatbed with pads and blankets helps protect against the potential for damage. When in transit, secure furniture with padded soft cords that are not over-tightened and avoid rolling over bumpy surfaces.
Don’t pick up chairs by the back or by arms; lift them by under the seat with the other hand supporting the back. Use discretion with large pieces of furniture and have two people lift from either side if one individual cannot safely lift the piece without potentially damaging it. Furniture with component pieces should be disassembled and moved separately to reduce unpredictable weight distribution. Any moveable component that cannot be disassembled from a piece of furniture should be safely secured. Marble and glass tops have a considerable amount of horizontal weight and should be carried vertically to avoid cracking or splitting. If you need help moving an object or collection to a new location, please contact Guardian. Whether moving a piece within your home or across the country, our trained art handlers use museum best practices to move art and objects safely. #artcollection, #artcollecting, #bestartstorage, #preserveart, #artstoragetips, #Protectart, #keepartsafe, #safestorage, #secureyourcollection, #guardianfineart, #furniture, #moving
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 Books have been stored on shelves in libraries and homes for centuries. Unfortunately, oftentimes, the material of the shelves can cause harm. There are steps you can take to ensure your library is stored in ideal conditions. Start with the room: good air circulation and a constant temperature of 70°F and 50% relative humidity are ideal. Avoid letting in natural light as much as possible and use LED lamps, not incandescent or compact fluorescent for illumination.
The material of the shelving should be carefully considered. Traditional materials such as wood, even with sealing, may never stop off-gassing of harmful substances. Certain sealants can also produce off-gassing, making the problem worse. Powder coated steel, if properly cured is a better choice for book shelving, but anodized aluminum is considered the first choice of many conservators and collectors. Chrome-plated steel shelving with shelves made of chrome-plated steel wire works for books housed in archival in boxes. Keep books stored vertically and loosely supported by neighboring books. Packing books in tightly will cause stress on covers and bindings when the books are removed. Leaning books on one another at an angle also causes undue stress. Books that are too tall to be stored upright can be laid horizontally, in stacks of three or less with polyester felt placed in between to avoid friction. Keep an inch or more of shelving in front of the books. Check the bare area of the shelf regularly for dust and signs of pests. Important and delicate books will require special safeguarding such as archival covers or boxes. If you are not certain that your books are stored properly, contact Guardian for assistance. We offer sound scientific advice for ideal storage – whether in our secure storage facility or in your home, institution, or business.  The environment in which objects exist is the most important detail to consider when caring for a collection. No single environmental condition will be ideal for all collections, but understanding different types of deterioration that can occur under poor environmental conditions is an important step in preventative care. Objects can deteriorate chemically, biologically, and mechanically.
#artcollection, #artcollecting, #bestartstorage, #preserveart, #artstoragetips, #protectart, #keepartsafe, #secureyourcollection, #guardianfineart, #archivalmaterials, #preventativecare #wisconsinartstorage |
