Are there services that offer conservation framing for documents?
The good news is that, yes, there are services that offer conservation framing for documents. SohoFrames of London is one of those specialists. We have many years of handling and framing all types of documents, both modern and ancient and in all sorts of condition.
Our professional document framing service has three levels. These are conservation, archival and museum standard. The differences between each are subtle and boil down to the quality of the materials and the practices employed. Every member of our picture framing team is skilled and experienced in the handling of the most fragile and sensitive of documents. These could be antique maps, letters, typed or hand-written, notes, receipts as well as certificates, diplomas, and legal documents. Many of the documents we see brought into our 5-storey workshop are family heirlooms. Others have historical and cultural significance. We see many religious documents such as Level 2 relics. Level 2 relics are items, which can also be documents like letters, or notes, etc, that have been touched by a Saint. Many we see are extremely fragile and require expert handling.
EXPERTISE
Two of the country’s most respected paper conservators trained our entire team of professional picture framers to both handle and mount documents to the highest standards so that we can then frame them successfully. We also have access to these experts in case documents that arrive in our workshop require stabilising and / or repair for some reason. This could be due to the general wear and tear of the years (or even centuries) and / or damage of some kind. These could be tears, rips, mould, foxing, or the damage and staining caused using incorrect materials we often see in documents framed elsewhere.
We recently framed tiny fragments of a 17th Century Level 2 religious document that we had expertly put back together and mounted so that we could then frame it. The results were superb. A conservator often really can work magic!
The most common incorrect material we often see in works that arrive in our workshop for re-framing is the tape used to mount the artwork into the mount. This could be a standard window mount or a flat or shadow float. We see the use of masking and even duct tape quite a lot on all sorts of documents and artworks. These types of tapes are best used for their intended applications rather than for picture framing. The residue they can leave behind can stain and damage paper in time and this often cannot be entirely reversed if at all.
(To understand the difference between the different mounting techniques used in picture framing please see HERE. Scroll down to Step 2 and then, by clicking on the descriptions you can see visuals of each style).
SOHOFRAMES MOUNTING MATERIALS
We only use conservation, archival and museum quality tape for hinging works into window mount or floating them onto the mountboard. For valuable documents and other artworks, we can use Japanese Hinges, which are the gold museum standard for attaching artworks. The process is fully reversable and leaves no trace. Another possibility is the use of acid-free acrylic corners.
After choosing which type of mountboard to use, which could be conservation, archival or museum standard boards (which are made of 100% acid-free cotton rather than wood fibres), we place one of these acrylic devices onto the mountboard where each corner of the document will be and then slot the artwork or document into them. It is a mounting technique that works without any tape whatsoever. It is also perfect for heavier works, documents, artwork, as well as things like vinyl where tape is not always desired.
One of the benefits of museum board apart from its gorgeous velvety texture is that it is available in sizes up to 1830mm x 1220mm. We use this both for window mounts, backing boards for floating works onto or for added protection in front of the outside backing board on the rear of a picture frame.
BEYOND MOUNTING & CONSERVATION
The question of are there services that offer conservation framing for documents? must also refer to the rest of the framing process. We have covered the mountboard and document attachments, as well as the backing. Now we shall look at the front of the picture frame.
It’s time to talk about glazing options. Documents can be light sensitive, which is why extremely valuable documents of the type found in museums are kept in a controlled environment along with very low levels of lighting. Inks can fade. How much so depends on the quality and composition of the ink in question as well as environmental factors. Regarding framing, it is a compromise between the ideal conditions required for long term preservation and the enjoyment of the document, which is the whole point of picture framing.
GLAZING
We offer two basic categories of glass. Standard glass, available in 2mm and 3mm thicknesses and Artglass. All the Artglass we use is anti-reflective and is available with three levels of UV protection: 70%, 92% and museum standard 99%.
Acrylic glass is also available. This can be standard clear, or with a 99% UV filter. Both products are reflective. We also offer anti-reflective museum standard acrylic with 99% UV protection. Please remember that UV protection does not guarantee that inks and pigments won’t fade, merely that it will slow the process down. How much so depends, as already mentioned, on various factors.
BEYOND GLASS
The only part of the process remaining is the actual picture frame itself. This can be anything and we offer several ranges of different types and styles of picture frame that cover a wide range of budgets, everything from simple gallery standard frame moulding all the way up to custom carved creations and custom coloured frames. It is just a question of the imagination. Whatever the frame you decide to choose, we will work with you to create the perfect result. So, in conclusion: Are there services that offer conservation framing for documents? Indeed, there are. Please contact us for further information.