Series editors' preface - Wood Tools

276 Conservation of Furniture
Thereafter, each stage should be clearly and
concisely communicated to the team by the
leader to ensure that the whole team is ready
for each stage as it occurs. Before picking an
object up it is very important that you know
where and how to put it down.
Protection of objects
Under certain circumstances it may be necessary
to carry out work with objects in display areas
or to work on exhibition fit-out in areas where
objects are on display. In offices, stores and
studios a clean, clear hazard-free space should
be chosen to examine objects. In galleries,
security staff should be informed before work
begins and the area surrounded with No Entry
signs. The best time to work in galleries is when
there are no other activities going on; it may be
necessary to abandon planned work if there is
a distraction in the gallery.
Objects should always be removed from the
immediate vicinity of building work of any
kind but there may be a further zone in which
objects are at risk unless protected. The
decision whether to leave objects in the work
area has to be balanced against the risks of
moving them. An alternative may be to leave
objects in the space suitably protected.
Although dust and dirt from light building and
fit-out work would normally be controlled at
source, it is advisable to protect objects that
are at all likely to be affected with polythene
sheet. The same applies to paint and water
splashes from redecoration and window cleaning.
Use of percussive tools over 8 mm in
diameter is best avoided. It may be necessary
to remove objects if a part of the building that
they are in is likely to be subjected to shock
or vibration greater than 4 mm/s. If objects
cannot be removed an adequate distance away
from the work then it may be necessary to
specify and monitor the tools to be used. To
minimize the risk of a direct hit from scaffolding
or roof works, for example, objects should
be removed or contained in boxing. Nineteen
millimetre ply on a 5050 mm wood framework
is suggested for the work area and
12 mm ply on a 5050 mm framework is
recommended along transit routes. Objects
should be protected with Bubblewrap ® or
polythene before being boxed. Power drills
rather than hammers should be used for the
application of the necessary fastenings.
When an object is being delivered to an
offsite exhibition, the venue should be well
prepared and all building work and showcase
construction complete before unpacking and
installation of objects begins. The object
should be prepared and packed into a suitable
container bearing in mind the nature of the
journey, the climatic variation likely to be
encountered, the transport and insurance. It is
very desirable that cases be stored under
conditions similar to those in which the object
will be displayed ready for the return journey.
Damage
Action to be taken in case of damage to an
object depends on the seriousness and circumstances
of damage. In the event of an accident,
injury to personnel should be dealt with first.
After that it is best to take action on the
object(s) as soon as possible to prevent the
situation getting worse. There should always
be at least two people with any object. One
should stay with the object to isolate the area
and prevent further damage occurring while
the other acts as a runner. The situation
should then be assessed and photographed
and the circumstances of the accident
recorded before the object is touched. The
pieces can then be gathered together, using
gloves if necessary, while recording information
about them that may be useful during
repair. Small fragments may be counted into a
labelled container and preferably protected
from contact with each other. Larger pieces
should also be labelled. Where there is a clear
risk of further damage this should be indicated
by means of clear labelling or other forms of
written advice attached to or placed near the
object. Some form of additional support may
be advisable to eliminate the need for direct
handling and to reduce the risk of further
damage and it can also help if such objects
are placed in an area away from other objects
to help minimize the risk of further handling.
This applies as much to objects damaged in
routine use as to those damaged in transit or
on loan. For further information on the history,
problems, potential solutions and standards of
cultural materials in transit see Mecklenburg
(1991), Merrill (1988), Richard et al. (1991),
Shelley (1987) and Stolow (1979, 1987). Useful
guidelines for couriers are provided by Rose
(1993).