Searching For Paper Conservator near Boston

[jim_p]

Customer brought in an older piece (etching) for frame repair. Just one look told me that it would need more than just that... I could see the telltale signs of acid burn around the edges of the mat window.

Un-framing this piece was like a master class in How Not To Frame. The backing paper was crumbling (high acid). Peel that off to reveal a corrugated cardboard filler board. Remove *that* to reveal a chipboard backer. The backer was exactly the same size as the etching, thus smaller than the mat. It was held to the (fabric-wrapped, non-acid-free) mat with two strips of kraft paper tape. To top it all off, the etching itself seems to be stuck to the chipboard *and* to the mat. I don't know if the framer did this or it just glued itself down over the years, but either way I don't want to try and peel this apart without professional help.

So: does anybody know of a paper conservator in the Boston area that could take a look at this for me?

 

[Maria Nucci Designs]

Jim,

The paper conservator I use most often in Boston is David Dudley, Art Conservation Resource Center (617) 262-5288. He's good and reasonable but may take many months to complete the work.

Another source is Paul Messier (617) 782-7110. He's in Brookline, MA. Very good, although a bit pricier, but will give you some information and documentation on the work that was done

 

[PJM]

Hi Jim, We use a paper conservator located in Needham. I am not at the store today but if you call the store today, one of my employees will give you her name and phone number.