Canadians are becoming increasingly appreciative of collectable
objects of artistic or heritage value, and concerned with
their preservation. Consequently, more and more Canadians
are turning to professional conservators to enhance and preserve
their collections.
The purpose of this pamphlet is to help you select a conservator
with the expertise needed to preserve, repair, and restore
your object or collection. Information is provided on what
to expect and what not to expect in your dealings with a conservator.
What is a conservator?
A conservator is someone who is involved in the care and
treatment of objects of artistic or historical significance.
Qualified conservators are highly skilled practitioners with
years of training and experience. Unfortunately, there are
also individuals who call themselves conservators but who
are unqualified or do not abide by professional standards.
Consequently, it is important to be careful in selecting a
conservator.
Conservation treatments can often be complex and may involve
some risk to the object. Because a high degree of expertise
is required, conservators generally specialize in one particular
field such as paintings, books or artifacts. Experts in preventive
conservation are usually qualified to provide advice or services
for more than one type of collection.
Selecting a conservator
It is your responsibility to ensure that you select a conservator
who will provide the best possible care for your object or
collection. To select a conservator you should first seek
references from people or organizations that employ conservators,
such as public galleries, museums and archives. It is best
to ensure that these references are from people who have dealt
directly with the conservator in question.
As a rule all conservators in Canada should:
know and abide by the Code of Ethics;
be willing to show examples of their work and discuss
openly their methods and materials;
be able to provide references;
be willing to discuss their training and experience;
be members of at least one conservation organization such
as the Canadian Association for Conservation (CAC), the
American Institute for Conservation (AIC), or the International
Institute for Conservation (IIC).
Although membership in these organizations is not an assurance
of professional status or competence, it does indicate an
interest in keeping abreast of developments in the field.
There is an accrediting organization of conservators in Canada
called the Canadian Association of Professional Conservators
(CAPC). Although its membership is currently small, the CAPC
is building a registry of professional conservators who have
met strict entrance requirements and who adhere to the Code
of Ethics. It provides a mechanism for the impartial review
of con-sumer complaints against member conservators. Selecting
a conservator who is a member of CAPC affords you the assurance
that the conservator is qualified in his/her field of specialization.
What is involved once you have selected a conservator?
You should know exactly who will be doing the conservation
work; it is better to deal directly with the conservator involved
rather than through a third party. Before any work begins,
you should discuss a contract that outlines both the scope
of the work and its cost. From this discussion you should
be informed of the conservator's fees and what they include.
As an example, you might ask if copies of photographic documentation
are included. The division of responsibility between you and
the conservator for packing, transporting and insuring the
object should be made clear.
The conservation of an object normally involves two phases;
examination and treatment. Usually these two steps and their
fees are contracted separately.
The first phase is the examination of the object to determine
its condition and to propose a plan for its treatment and
care. Following the examination the conservator should provide:
a written report describing the present condition of the
object;
a written proposal for treatment (although a recommendation
against treatment may be a valid outcome of an examination);
an explanation of the expected results of treatment;
an explanation of the potential risks involved in the
proposed treatment;
information on the type and the extent of treatment report
you will receive upon completion of the work;
a cost estimate;
an estimated completion date.
If you accept this treatment proposal, the second phase,
the treatment itself, will follow. Until a contract is signed,
no treatment will be started, and you are under no obligation
to have the work done by that conservator. If you have any
doubts, you should seek a second opinion from another qualified
conservator.
If, during treatment, new information is discovered that
necessitates a significant deviation from the proposed treatment,
you will be asked to sign a revised treatment proposal or
contract.
When the work is completed you should receive a written treatment
report which includes a description of any materials added
to the object during the treatment. Photographs will be included
if specified in your contract. You should also be given recommendations
for the ongoing care of the object. The conservator will keep
complete records of the treatment.
A conservator can also be contracted to provide expert recommendations
on preventive conservation for your collection. He/she will
conduct a survey of the site and the collection, and will
then present a written evaluation with recommendations for
improvements in environment, storage design, etc.
What not to expect of a conservator
A conservator should not be expected to provide cost estimates
or treatment proposals without first seeing the object or
collection. He/she should not be expected to provide free
estimates or to store objects without charge after work has
been completed. Do not expect a conservator to be qualified
to perform appraisals or authentications, or to buy your artwork
or object, since this may involve a conflict of interest.
What to do if problems arise
If you are dissatisfied with the conservator's work you should
first approach the conservator to ensure that there has not
been a simple misunderstanding. If the problem cannot be resolved
in this way, and if the conservator is a member of CAPC, you
may contact CAPC for help in mediating the dispute.
In closing
The best way to ensure your satisfaction is to be informed
of the conservator's qualifications and to have realistic
expectations of the scope and outcome of any work performed.
Canada is known for its high conservation standards and has
many respected professionals working in the field as practitioners,
researchers, technicians, educators and consultants. Please
take advantage of this expertise to provide the best care
for your treasured objects or collections.
Conservation organizations in Canada
The Canadian
Association for Conservation of Cultural Property (formerly
IIC-CG) is a non-profit charitable organization whose primary
aim is to further the dissemination of knowledge concerning
the conservation of Canada's cultural property.
CAC
c/o Canadian Museums Association
Suite 400, 280 Metcalfe St.
Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1R7
