What is Conservation?
Conservation-restoration, or simply conservation is the profession devoted to the preservation of physical cultural heritage for the future. It involves examination of cultural artefacts, documentation, treatment and preventive conservation aimed at slowing the effects of deterioration and prolonging the useful life of the object.
Conservation embraces many kinds of materials and types of artefact - including paintings conservation, book and paper conservation, stone and building conservation, archaeological conservation, museum conservation, and furniture conservators. In addition there are textile conservators, picture frame restores, clock and watch restorers and conservators of scientific instruments. Private sector ceramics restores form a sub-set of the conservation community with a tradition of restoration to a higher level of perfection than is usual in the museum world.
Conservation embraces many kinds of materials and types of artefact - including paintings conservation, book and paper conservation, stone and building conservation, archaeological conservation, museum conservation, and furniture conservators. In addition there are textile conservators, picture frame restores, clock and watch restorers and conservators of scientific instruments. Private sector ceramics restores form a sub-set of the conservation community with a tradition of restoration to a higher level of perfection than is usual in the museum world.
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Conservation is an interdisciplinary field and conservators come from many different backgrounds such as the fine arts (painting and sculpture), the sciences (including chemistry, physics and materials science). They may also come from an education or career in art history, archaeology, studio art or even from a career in nursing. They are often also required to have artistic or craft skills before they can apply their theoretical knowledge of conservation.
Professional Organisations
The work of professional conservators is guided, and in many ways regulated, by several national and international professional organisations. These provide a forum for the discussion of recent developments within the profession by publishing academic journals and newsletters, and by organising conferences. One of the main professional bodies is the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (IIC). National and Regional organisations such as the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC), the UK's Institute of Conservation (ICON) and the European Confederation of Conservator-Restorers (ECCO) also play an important role in informing and regulating the profession.
Many organisations provide accreditation to their practising members that serves as a guarantee of competence to work as a practical conservator in their field of expertise.
Many organisations provide accreditation to their practising members that serves as a guarantee of competence to work as a practical conservator in their field of expertise.
