Heritage Materials - Structure and Integrity G (11162.1)

Please note these are the 2021 details for this unit
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Heritage Materials - Structure and Integrity G
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Arts And Design
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
School Of Arts And Communications Graduate Level Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
This unit develops student understanding of the concepts and skills necessary for structurally reintegrating structurally unstable or incomplete items of heritage significance. It explores the visual, structural, functional and cultural reasons for reintegrating components and exposes students to a range of repair, joining and reconstruction techniques. Students completing this unit will be able to develop and apply a range of conservation and structural reintegration solutions for damaged heritage objects or structures.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Investigate and articulate the life histories and cultural significance of heritage objects and structures using physical and documentary evidence, and stakeholder consultation;
2. Identify when and how reintegration could enhance structural stability, interpretation, or engagement with significant aspects of heritage objects and structures;
3. Develop and implement effective and sustainable structural stabilisation and reintegration treatments for heritage objects and structures, taking into account cultural significance, physical condition and intended use; and
4. Apply appropriate techniques for the structural stabilisation and reintegration of heritage objects and structures, through practical exercises and projects.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology


Prerequisites

Undergraduate students must have completed a minimum of 48 credit points.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
Not available

Required texts

There is no one text that covers the theory and practice of repair and restoration for the many materials and object types in heritage collections. What you need to read will depend to some extent on the areas you are most interested in, and which you choose to focus on in your project object. The following is a list of highly relevant texts that are mostly available in libraries in Canberra or online collections. The ones I have suggested as purchases are both core references and not too expensive, but it is not compulsory to purchase them.
 

General

Conservation Unit Museums and Galleries, Adhesives and Coatings, Science for Conservators Vol. 3, Museums and Galleries Commission, Routledge 1992.

This series is a must for conservators. Volume 3 is the main one for this unit, but you will need them all if you are interested in pursuing conservation.

Availability: UC library

Purchase: Highly recommended

Materials for conservation : organic consolidants, adhesives and coatings

By Velson C. Horie, Heinemann, 2010.

A mine of information on the properties and uses of different adhesives, coatings and consolidants. Be sure to get the revised 2010 version.

Availability: UC library

Purchase: Highly recommended

Adhesives Compendium for Conservation

By Jane L. Down, ISBN: 9780660203195, Date: 2015, Publisher: CCI

Another mine of information on the properties and uses of different adhesives, coatings and consolidants. 

Availability: Ian has a copy

Purchase: Recommended

Holding It All Together: Ancient and Modern Approaches to Joining, Repair and Consolidation 

ISBN: 9781904982470

Publication Date: 2010

Publisher: Archetype Publications Ltd

Place of Publication: London

A further mine of information on the properties and uses of different adhesives, coatings and consolidants. 

Availability: UC library

Purchase: At your discretion
 

Theory and background to conservation

Preserving What is Valued: Museums, Conservation, and First Nations

By Miriam Clavir, Vancouver: UBC Press, c2002.

A fabulous book contrasting conservation and First Nations perspectives on notions of damage, appropriate use, and restoration. In particular read Chapter 5 including the section on restoration from p. 164.

Availability: UC library

Purchase: Recommended

Conservation Treatment Methodology

By Barbara Applebaum, Hoboken: Taylor & Francis, 2012.

A thought-provoking book about conservation decision making which discusses many practical and ethical dilemmas conservators come across, and outlines methods and tools for working through them.

Availability: Electronic resource in UC library. In particular, have a look at Chapter 11 on choosing treatment materials.

Purchase: Recommended

Contemporary Theory of Conservation

By Salvador Munoz-Vinas, Hoboken, Taylor & Francis, 2012.

A great book discussing what conservation (including restoration) actually is, and how it came to be this way.

Availability: electronic resource in UC library. Read Chapter 1, and particularly the section discussing restoration.

Purchase: Recommended

The Nara document on authenticity (Nara Conference on Authenticity in Relation to the World Heritage Convention, held at Nara, Japan, from 1-6 November 1994).

A record of a seminal moment in heritage debate, with experts from all over the world discussing what authenticity might mean and how it can be preserved.  Authenticity is, of course, a key concept in conservation and heritage – and decisions about what it is and how it should be preserved are ones that every conservator must tackle. Browse as many of the papers and session discussions as you can, but particularly the chapter on the Ise Shrine by Nobuko Inaba.

Availability: UC and NLA libraries.

Purchase: Recommended

Conservation of specific materials

Paper Conservation Catalog 1984-1994

Thorough overview of the conservation of paper compiled by the AIC Book and Paper Group. Of particular relevance are chapters 17: Sizing/resizing, 23: Consolidation/fixing/facing, 26: Filling of losses, 29: Lining & 46: Adhesives.

Availability: Online at http://cool.conservation-us.org/coolaic/sg/bpg/pcc/

Conservation and Restoration of Ceramics

By Susan Buys & Victoria Oakley

A good text on the subject

Availability: Ian has a copy

Purchase: Highly recommended if you are interested in porcelain

Porcelain: repair and restoration

By Nigel Williams

ISBN: 081223703X

Edition: 2nd ed. /

Total Pages: 160 p. :

Publication Date: 2002.

Publisher: University of Pensylvania Press

Place of Publication: Philadelphia :

A good text on the subject

Availability: Ian has a copy

Purchase: Highly recommended if you are interested in porcelain

Recent Advances in Glass, Stained-Glass and Ceramic Conservation 2013 

By H. Roemich; K. Campaign & Van Lookeren

ISBN: 9789089321138

Publication Date: 2013

Publisher: Stichting Promotie Archeologie

A good collection of papers on the subject

Availability: Ian has a copy

Purchase: Highly recommended if you are interested in porcelain

The use of Paraloid B-72 as an adhesive: its application for archaeological ceramics and other materials 

By Stephen P. Koob

Journal Title: Studies in Conservation

ISSN: 00393630

Publication Date: 1986-02-01

Volume: 31

Issue: 1

Start page: 7 End page: 14

A good discussion of this very useful adhesive.

Availability: Online purchase

Purchase: At your discretion

Care of Ceramics and Glass 

By Charlotte Newton and Judy Logan

Journal Title: Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) Notes

Publication Date: 2007

Volume: 5

Issue: 1

A good introduction to the subject

Purchase: Available for free at -

https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/conservation-preservation-publications/canadian-conservation-institute-notes/care-ceramics-glass.html

The Textile Conservators Manual

By Sheila Landi, Butterworth-Heinemann 1998.

This book is a must for the textiles lesson, especially chapter 7 Support and Consolidation pp. 106-148.

Availability: UC library

Purchase: Highly recommended if you are interested in textiles.

Unravelling textiles: A Handbook for Preservation of Textile Collections

By Foekje Boersma, A. Brokerhof, S. van den Berg, J. Tegelaers,  Books, 2000

A good book for textile display techniques.

Availability: UC library.

Purchase: Highly recommended if you are interested in textiles.

Conservation of Furniture

By Shayne Rivers and Nick Umne

Routledge, 2003.

Furniture can be a complex composite; it can include wood, metals, plastics, textiles and leather. It can also incorporate a variety of adhesives, paints and finishes, and decorative things like painted surfaces, horn, plastics etc, so this book covers a bit of pretty much everything and does it really thoroughly and clearly. 

Availability: Purchase your own copy

Purchase: Highly recommended if you are interested in the topic

Evaluation of the effectiveness of cellulose ethers as adhesives for inlays and as consolidants for media used in works of art on paper (1997), By Shashoua, Yvonne.
Dept of Conservation British Museum, London

Availability: Purchase your own copy

Purchase: Good introduction to evaluation of consolidants.

Learner engagement

Students will need to commit to spending time to carry out a major conservation treatment project. This will include time in the Heritage Laboratory outside standard contact times. Supervised sessions will be scheduled for this purpose.

Participation requirements

Students are expected to participate in lectures, tutorials, group work and site visits to achieve the learning outcomes set out above. These include discussions, presentations and group activities which are designed to achieve the learning outcomes of this unit.

Students are able to complete some practical work on their project objects and assigned treatments during class time but completion of the project objects and assigned treatments will require more work in their own time. Work on objects/treatments must be completed in the laboratory unless prior written permission has been arranged with the unit covenor or the laboratory manager.

Students are expected to regularly check their Canvas site announcements and university email for information about readings, session updates and opportunities relevant to the unit.

Students who attend campus for class or other purposes must play their part in keeping our campus and community safe by following these basic guidelines to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission:
• Practise good hand hygiene, washing hands regularly;
• If you do happen to cough or sneeze, please do so into the crook of your elbow, dispose of tissues immediately and wash hands immediately
• Practise effective physical distancing;
• Follow all directions of teaching and other UC staff regarding safety measures;
• Stay off campus if you are unwell and get tested according to ACT Government guidelines, and 
• Follow University communications about campus arrangements at https://www.canberra.edu.au/coronavirus-advice

Required IT skills

Use of standard word processing and spreadsheet software, image processing software, and internet and email functions. Use of the UCLearn system.

In-unit costs

No specfic purchases are required.

Work placement, internships or practicums

This unit involves  a site visit to a conservation facility.

Additional information

None