Conservation Treatment Methodology

Conservation Treatment Methodology is a new publication dealing with decision-making for conservation treatments. The book proposes a series of explicit steps that can be applied to the treatment of all cultural property, independent of material or object type. Written by a highly respected conservator, this book brings conservation theory firmly into the practical realm. The book also introduces new terminology that facilitates discussion of treatment options with non-conservators. The systematic approach, illustrated with concrete examples, will make conservators more confident in their treatment decisions. Conservation Treatment Methodology is not a technical manual about how to do treatments but a discussion of how to make decisions about what treatment to do. It deals equally with the physical and cultural aspects of objects and discusses issues like the meaning that objects hold for their owners and the importance of the object's history in determining its treatment. The book is therefore useful for art historians and museum personnel who deal with conservators and want to know more about the treatment process. Conservation students and museum curators will also find this book a valuable resource.