capillary washing
Capillary washing -either plane or slanted- is an alternative to bathing in paper conservation, particulary useful for artefacts whose technique is water sensitive such as watercolours, but also for oversized paper artefacts.
Capillarity enables water circulation through the paper support intended to clean while avoiding dripping or leaks over the surface. It enables an effective cleaning yet keeping unaltered the water sensitive technique (gouache, watercolour, pastel or other).
Water flux is made possible by placing under the paper artefact a fabric, a paper, a synthetic tissue (like Paraprint OL60) or either semi-synthetic (Sontara). It runs faster when slanted. Water can be modified with chemical agents (such as deacidification reageants , for instance, or others).
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PEL Preservation Equipment Limited (United Kingdom) promotes one of the products they supply with examples of conservation treatments made in this studio. Watch the video describing the process of capillary washing using Paraprint OL60 here: How to wash artwork on paper with Paraprint OL60.
Find below the portfolio projects related to capillary washing:
Map by Blaeu cartographers
Conservation of 17th c. map by Blaeu dutch cartographers, 1630 Hand coloured print with gouach and golden paint. It had kraft paper patches and discolouration caused mainly by light exposure. The conservation treatment consisted on dry cleaning, old repairs removal, wet cleaning (slanted capillary wash) and flattening.
Conservation of varnished map
Conservation of an oversized map, varnished and with a linen backing, dated 1906. Varnish removal with gels, backing removal, capillary washing, tear mending, infilling, lining, flattening, retouch, varnishing and finishing (tapes and slats on edges).
Conservation of oversized Adami drawings from Musée Jean Cocteau
Conservation of oversized casein drawings by Valerio Adami with stains caused by a flood. Slanted capillary washing, flattening, mending and conservation mounting.
Conservation of gouache and watercolour drawing on paper
Conservation of a china ink, pencil, watercolour and gouache drawing with severe discolouration due to light exposure. Dry cleaning, wash cleaning, deacidification, light bleaching, inpainting of light areas and flattening.
Conservation of cartoon drawing of a packed tram
Conservation of a china ink, pencil, watercolour and gouache drawing with severe discolouration due to light exposure. Dry cleaning, wash cleaning, deacidification, light bleaching and flattening.
Conservation of gouache on paper, painting by Joan Ponç
"Gran Pastoral", gouache on paper, 83 x 112 cm. The artwork was lined on a Kraft paper with tapes and synthetic adhesives. It had losses and tears, and remarkable discolouration. The paper was extremely brittle. Tape and synthetic adhesives removal. Capillary wash and light bleaching, infilling of losses, lining, inpainting (mimetic criteria in the small ones, neutral color in the bigger ones).
