Architectural tiles : conservation and restoration : from the medieval period to the twentieth century

Providing hands on advice for the conservator, Architectural Tiles: Conservation and Restoration is a unique and valuable guide. Topics covered offer practical guidance on conservation and restoration techniques including the problems of manufacture, cleaning, replacement or repair and mortars. Techniques are illustrated by comprehensive case studies, against a background of the role of past architects and designers in historic schemes. * Unique guide to the conservation and restoration of architectural tiles * International case studies provide inspiration and tips for best practice * Learn from the author's 20 years experience in the field Architectural Tiles: Conservation and Restoration 2 Contents 6 Acknowledgments and thanks 10 Acknowledgements for photographs 12 List of colour plates 19 Introduction 20 1 Looking at tile schemes 24 Introduction 24 Medieval pavements 25 Delftware interiors 27 Nineteenth and early twentieth century interior schemes 30 2 Tile making – past and present 39 Introduction 39 Medieval tiles 40 Early tile making 40 Degradation associated with manufacturing techniques 45 Contemporary tile making techniques in the medieval style 47 Delftware tiles 50 Early tile making in the Netherlands 50 Degradation associated with manufacturing techniques 55 Current tile making techniques 56 Factory restoration techniques 59 Nineteenth century tiles 60 Industrial mass production of nineteenth century floor tiles 60 Degradation of floor tiles associated with production techniques 64 Industrial mass production of nineteenth century glazed wall tiles 66 Degradation of glazed wall tiles associated with production techniques 68 Current tile manufacturing techniques for restoration projects 70 Conclusion 76 3 Mortar and construction methods used in historic tile schemes 78 Introduction 78 Construction methods in the medieval period 79 Early lime mortar 81 Mortar mixes for resetting 84 Construction methods in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries 85 Fixing methods and materials in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries 87 Mortar and resetting for seventeenth and eighteenth century tiles 89 Short case study 90 Construction methods in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries 91 Problems connected with the early use of Portland cement 97 Mortars and adhesives for resetting nineteenth and early twentieth century tiles 100 Conclusion 104 4 Principals of conservation for architectural tile schemes 106 Introduction 106 Pre-industrial age 108 Post-industrial age 109 Conservation in the USA 114 5 Methods of conservation 118 Introduction 118 Surveys 119 Historical context 119 Description 120 Identifying deterioration 120 Identifying wear and tear due to natural aging 122 Treatment recommendations within a survey 123 Role of the conservator as consultant 125 Cleaning 126 Hard and soft bodies 126 Medieval tile pavements 127 Seventeenth and eighteenth century glazed wall tiles 130 Nineteenth and twentieth century tiles 132 Paint removal from glazed tiles 136 Salts 137 Continuing care of historic and restored glazed tile schemes 139 Advice to others 139 Consolidation of mortar 141 Degradation and consolidation of medieval mortar 141 Causes of degradation in seventeenth and eighteenth century mortars 142 Consolidating seventeenth and eighteenth century mortars 144 Causes of degradation in nineteenth and twentieth century mortars 145 Consolidation of nineteenth and twentieth century mortars 147 The importance of grout 148 Consolidation of ceramic tiles in-situ 150 Causes of damage to in-situ tiles 150 Consolidating medieval tiles 152 Consolidating seventeenth and eighteenth century tiles 153 Consolidating nineteenth and twentieth century tiles 154 Painting or retouching 155 Safe removal of damaged historic tiles 157 Medieval tiles 157 Eighteenth century and later tiles 157 Removal of steel pins 160 Relocation of eighteenth century decorative tile panels and schemes 161 Relocation of nineteenth and twentieth century decorative tile panels and schemes 161 Ethical considerations 161 Practice of relocation 163 Preparing for reuse or display 168 Displaying tile panels 170 Conservation treatment reports 172 6 Tools, products, and health and safety 174 Introduction 174 On-site work 174 On-site tools and materials checklist 176 Studio equipment 177 7 Case studies 179 The conservation of the historic tile floors at Ontario State Courthouse, Osgoode Hall, Toronto 179 Historic context 179 Condition survey, September 1999 181 Repairs to the hallway floor (Room 242), August 2000 182 The atrium floor 188 The conservation and restoration of Pugin tiles at the House of Commons, London 193 Manufacture 194 On-site conservation 196 Appendix 197 Conservation of medieval tile pavements in an outdoor environment (1998–2001) 197 Introduction 197 Background to the project 198 The natural environment 198 Treatment methods 200 The weather 202 Visitors 204 Vandalism 204 Conclusion 204 Appendix 205 Persian Water Rug fountain, San Diego, California, USA 208 Sidewalk tiles, Joliet, Illinois 209 Update 212 Conservation treatment report on three early 1960s tile panels from Sunderland Art Gallery for Tyne and Wear Museums 213 Introduction 213 Conservation treatment 214 Condition 215 Treatment 215 Additional treatment 218 Reversing technique 219 Bibliography and references 220 Appendix 223 Index 224 Architectural Tiles: Conservation and Restoration......Page 2 Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgments and thanks......Page 10 Acknowledgements for photographs......Page 12 List of colour plates......Page 19 Introduction......Page 20 Introduction......Page 24 Medieval pavements......Page 25 Delftware interiors......Page 27 Nineteenth and early twentieth century interior schemes......Page 30 Introduction......Page 39 Early tile making......Page 40 Degradation associated with manufacturing techniques......Page 45 Contemporary tile making techniques in the medieval style......Page 47 Early tile making in the Netherlands......Page 50 Degradation associated with manufacturing techniques......Page 55 Current tile making techniques......Page 56 Factory restoration techniques......Page 59 Industrial mass production of nineteenth century floor tiles......Page 60 Degradation of floor tiles associated with production techniques......Page 64 Industrial mass production of nineteenth century glazed wall tiles......Page 66 Degradation of glazed wall tiles associated with production techniques......Page 68 Current tile manufacturing techniques for restoration projects......Page 70 Conclusion......Page 76 Introduction......Page 78 Construction methods in the medieval period......Page 79 Early lime mortar......Page 81 Mortar mixes for resetting......Page 84 Construction methods in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries......Page 85 Fixing methods and materials in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries......Page 87 Mortar and resetting for seventeenth and eighteenth century tiles......Page 89 Short case study......Page 90 Construction methods in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries......Page 91 Problems connected with the early use of Portland cement......Page 97 Mortars and adhesives for resetting nineteenth and early twentieth century tiles......Page 100 Conclusion......Page 104 Introduction......Page 106 Pre-industrial age......Page 108 Post-industrial age......Page 109 Conservation in the USA......Page 114 Introduction......Page 118 Historical context......Page 119 Identifying deterioration......Page 120 Identifying wear and tear due to natural aging......Page 122 Treatment recommendations within a survey......Page 123 Role of the conservator as consultant......Page 125 Hard and soft bodies......Page 126 Medieval tile pavements......Page 127 Seventeenth and eighteenth century glazed wall tiles......Page 130 Nineteenth and twentieth century tiles......Page 132 Paint removal from glazed tiles......Page 136 Salts......Page 137 Advice to others......Page 139 Degradation and consolidation of medieval mortar......Page 141 Causes of degradation in seventeenth and eighteenth century mortars......Page 142 Consolidating seventeenth and eighteenth century mortars......Page 144 Causes of degradation in nineteenth and twentieth century mortars......Page 145 Consolidation of nineteenth and twentieth century mortars......Page 147 The importance of grout......Page 148 Causes of damage to in-situ tiles......Page 150 Consolidating medieval tiles......Page 152 Consolidating seventeenth and eighteenth century tiles......Page 153 Consolidating nineteenth and twentieth century tiles......Page 154 Painting or retouching......Page 155 Eighteenth century and later tiles......Page 157 Removal of steel pins......Page 160 Ethical considerations......Page 161 Practice of relocation......Page 163 Preparing for reuse or display......Page 168 Displaying tile panels......Page 170 Conservation treatment reports......Page 172 On-site work......Page 174 On-site tools and materials checklist......Page 176 Studio equipment......Page 177 Historic context......Page 179 Condition survey, September 1999......Page 181 Repairs to the hallway floor (Room 242), August 2000......Page 182 The atrium floor......Page 188 The conservation and restoration of Pugin tiles at the House of Commons, London......Page 193 Manufacture......Page 194 On-site conservation......Page 196 Introduction......Page 197 The natural environment......Page 198 Treatment methods......Page 200 The weather......Page 202 Conclusion......Page 204 Appendix......Page 205 Persian Water Rug fountain, San Diego, California, USA......Page 208 Sidewalk tiles, Joliet, Illinois......Page 209 Update......Page 212 Introduction......Page 213 Conservation treatment......Page 214 Treatment......Page 215 Additional treatment......Page 218 Reversing technique......Page 219 Bibliography and references......Page 220 Appendix......Page 223 Index......Page 224 Suitable for conservators, this book presents a guide on conservation and restoration techniques of architectural tiles. It includes the problems of manufacture, cleaning, replacement or repair and mortars. It contains techniques illustrated by comprehensive case studies. This book aims to advise and encourage on appropriate means towards preservation of the valuable heritage. It is an accessible resource to anyone who is interested either professionally or as an enthusiast in the preservation of historic architectural tiles. Providing hands-on advice for the conservator, this guide offers practical guidance on conservation and restoration techniques including the problems of manufacture, cleaning, replacement or repair and mortars