Art, biology, and conservation : biodeterioration of works of art

Despite the perception that artworks are timeless and unchanging, they are actually subject to biological attack from a variety of sources--from bacteria to fungi to insects. This groundbreaking volume, which publishes the proceedings of a conference held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2002, explores how the development of these organisms can be arrested while preserving both the work of art and the health of the conservator.The richly illustrated text, containing the writings of over 40 scientists and conservators, is divided into sections on stone and mural paintings, paper, textiles, wood and archaeological materials, treatment and prevention, and special topics. The artworks and cultural properties discussed include, among many others, Paleolithic cave paintings, Tiffany drawings, huts built by early Antarctic explorers, and a collection of toothbrushes taken from Auschwitz victims. The Evaluation Of Biodeterioration Processes On Cultural Objects And Approaches For Their Effective Control / Th. Warscheid -- Preserving The Timbers Of The Tudor Warship Mary Rose / A.m. Jones [and Others] -- Biodeterioration Studies On Pastels And Oil-based Paintings / M. Berovič -- Chemical And Microbiological Causes Of Deterioration Of Toothbrushes That Used To Belong To Prisoners Of Auschwitz-birkenau Concentration Camp : Research And Methods Of Their Conservation / A. Strzelczyk And H.e. Rosa -- Collateral Damage : Anthrax, Gas, And Radiation / D. Erhardt [and Others] -- An Introduction To Tiffany Studies / A.m. Baldwin -- Studies Of Fungal Infestations Of Tiffany's Drawings : Limits And Advantages Of Classical And Molecular Techniques / M.p. Di Bonaventura [and Others] -- Enzymatic Approach To Removal Of Fungal Spots From Drawings On Paper / F.e. Nieto-fernandez [and Others] -- Artworks, Drawings, Prints, And Documents --^ Fungi Eat Them All! / H.m. Szczepanowska And A.r. Cavaliere -- Practical Applications Of Enzymes In Paper Conservation / Y. Van Dyke -- Fungal-problem Monitoring For Heritage Collections : The Need For Baseline Reference Levels For Fungal Structures And Beta-glucans / M.-l.e. Florian -- Characterization Of Bacteria Isolated From Naturally Aged Silk Fibroin / O. Ciferri, M.e. Becker, And E. De Rossi -- Microbial Communities In Caves : Ecology, Physiology, And Effects On Paleolithic Paintings / L. Laiz, J.m. Gonzalez, And C. Saiz-jimenez -- Red Stains On Carrara Marble : A Case Study Of The Certosa Of Pavia, Italy / E. Zanardini [and Others] -- Microbial Processes In The Deterioration Of Maya Archaeological Buildings In Southern Mexico / C. Mcnamara [and Others] -- Microbiodeterioration Of Mural Paintings : A Review / J. Karbowska-berent -- Methodological Approaches To The Study Of Stone Alteration Caused By Cyanobacterial Biofilms In Hypogean Environments / P. Albertano --^ Study Of Microbial Communities Colonizing Hypogean Monument Surfaces Using Nondestructive And Destructive Sampling Methods / C. Urzì [and Others] -- Deterioration In Historic And Archaeological Woods From Terrestrial Sites / R.a. Blanchette -- Degradation Patterns In Waterlogged Wood And The Two-step Peg Treatment For Large Archaeological Finds : The Case Of The Bremen Cog / P. Hoffmann -- The Conservation Of The Wooden Objects From Gordion, Turkey : Methods For The Treatment Of Dry Archaeological Wood / E. Simpson -- Deterioration And Conservation Issues Associated With Antarctica's Historic Huts / B.w. Held [and Others] -- Evaluating The Wooden Remnants Of The Tektaş Burnu Shipwreck / J.a. Jurgens, R.a. Blanchette, And D.n. Carlson -- Visual Assessment Of Biocide Effects On Japanese Paint Materials / J. Suzuki And R.j. Koestler -- Anoxic Eradication Of Fungi In Wooden Objects / C. Tavzes [and Others] -- Microbiological Impurity Of Conservation Treatment Waters / V. Bullock --^ Consequences Of Microbe-biofilm-salt Interactions For Stone Integrity In Monuments / E. May, S. Papida, And H. Abdulla -- Mechanisms Of Microbial Calcium Carbonate Precipitation / C. Barabesi [and Others] -- Biomediated Calcite Precipitation For The Reinforcement Of Monumental Stones / P. Tiano, S. Bracci, And S. Rescic -- Biological Mortars : A Solution For Stone Sculpture Conservation / G. Orial, Th. Vieweger, And J.-f. Loubiere -- Biocides And Treatment Of Stone : Limitations And Future Prospects / M.p. Nugari And O. Salvadori -- The Use Of Metallic Oxides In Control Of Biological Growth On Outdoor Monuments / D.p. Wessel -- In Defense Of The Fungi / A.r. Cavaliere. Edited By Robert J. Koestler ... [et Al.]. Papers In This Volume Were Presented At A Conference Held At The Metropolitan Museum Of Art, New York, June 13-15, 2002. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In June of 2002, nearly forty scientists and conservators presented their latest findings on the interactions of microbes and art and offered approaches to counter the effects of biodeterioration at a three-day symposium hosted by the Metropolitan Museum. This publication brings together their research, which covers the biodeterioration of paper, textiles, stone and mural paintings, pastels and oil-based paintings, and wood and archaeological materials, as well as discusses the treatment and prevention of biodeterioration. -- Metropolitan Museum of Art website.