Works on Paper

Works on paper including watercolours, etchings, drawings, pastels as well as prints, certificates and important documents, are in danger of deterioration due to a number of factors.  Any work or document on paper or board may be attacked by acidity.  This can be seen as yellowing known as oxidization which dulls colours and alters tones and eventually small round brown stains appear known as fox marks.  As well as ruining the appearance of the work this also causes the material to become brittle and seriously devalues a work of art or historic document.  The acidity may have been inherent in the paper itself, but more commonly may have been caused by inferior framing materials and techniques used in the past.  (See Conservation Framing).  Humidity which causes build up of moisture inside a frame will eventually stain the paper and cause buckling and crumbling.  Unfortunately, your precious artworks might have been damaged in transit while moving or by being inappropriately hung causing glass to break and damage the contents of the frame.

The good news is that these problems can be treated.  Brown fox marks can be removed and yellowed and stained paper can be cleaned.  Buckled paper can be flattened and tears can be repaired virtually invisibly.  Once treated, the paper can be de-acidified to a pH 8 which will preserve the paper for 150 to 200 years.

Stop the rot! 

Bring your valued pieces into Applecross Framing & Fine Art for advice and an obligation-free quote from our experienced internationally qualified paper restorer.