Page 141 - The Hunt - Spring 2024

BOOK ’EM
Preservation tips from Washington, D.C.’s National Archives.
1. Store books away from sources of heat and moisture. Avoid attics and garages.
2. Light can cause book covers to fade, especially the spines. Position bookcases away from sunlight. The same is true of paintings and other works of art.
4. Store small- to medium-sized books vertically. Shelve books of
the same size together so they support one another.
5. Store large volumes horizontally.
This keeps covers flat.
6. Handle books gently to avoid separating covers and spine pieces from the binding. Use a thin piece of paper or a length of ribbon as a bookmark instead of metal devices that clip over the tops of pages.
7. Don’t attempt to repair books
you wish to pass on to future generations. Using tape to mend torn pages ultimately causes more damage. Simply box a damaged book, store it flat and handle the volume carefully.
when it comes to cars and furniture. Our region has fostered a cadre of
specialists like Alexander and Trent. At the institutional level, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library is well known for its resident experts and educational offerings, including a longstanding master’s degree program with the University of Delaware. The former home of Henry Francis du
Pont, Winterthur was opened to the public in 1951. Today its unparalleled collection includes nearly 90,000 objects made (or used) in America since 1640, all displayed or stored in the 175-room mansion.
The program in art conservation offers free advice at clinics five times a year. “People can bring up to three objects of a type—paintings, textiles, furniture—for a 30-minute appointment and can arrange for
“About every 50 years, a piece of furniture
will need repair. A lot of this damage occurs
when people try to shove furniture across
the room for cleaning or redecoration.”
—New Life Furniture Systems’ Scott Alexander
multiple appointments,” says Winterthur spokesperson Jason Brudereck.
At the clinics, collectors can get advice on how to care for their objects, although no valuations are given. Visitors can also sign
up for hour-long tours of the museum's three conservation labs. Caring for Your Cherished Objects: The Winterthur Guide provides practical information on how to prolong the life of vintage items. The book is on sale in the museum shop.
Many vintage collectibles are enjoyed on a continuing basis—even vintage automobiles. “I never cease to be amazed by the reaction some people have to the mechanical capabilities of antique automobiles, as if they’re archaic, delicate machines capable of being driven only short distances—and even then, only very carefully,” wrote David Schultz a dozen years ago in Hemmings Classic Car. “In reality, most of the classics were overbuilt machines. A friend of mine just began restoring his first classic and was taken aback by the quality of design and construction of the massive automobile. So why do people think these cars can’t be driven?”
The same is true of furniture. “Half our business is reupholstering,” says Alexander, who has a staff of 10 in his shop. “Right now, we’re painting a lot of wooden furniture. In the 1990s, people were taking the paint off for the original wood. Now we’re putting it back on again—lots of blues and grays. People like to reinvent pieces.”
When it comes to routine maintenance, Alexander warns of overdoing it. “Generally, we don’t recommend lots of furniture oils and waxes,” he says. “A soft, damp cloth with soapy water is all you need—and then maybe just a touch of polish.”
Applied with proper TLC, of course.
Visit winterthur.org.
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