In the Harry Ransom Center's magazine, Emily Farek (WUDPAC 2019) discusses the treatment of the Blaeu World Map. From the blog post:
In an earlier blog post,
we shared the science behind the Blaeu World Map. This week, Kress
Paper Conservation Fellow Emily Farek dives into the treatment taking
place to help extend the life of this unique 371-year-old wall map
created by Dutch cartographer Joan Blaeu in 1648.
Over time, this incredible 17th-century map has gone
through many changes that have altered its appearance. These alterations
reflect its use, ownership, history, and the passing of time. A
conservator’s job is to respect all of these changes, and ensure that
the map will survive for 371 more years, while honoring the intention of the original artists and makers who created the map.
As the Kress Paper Conservation Fellow at the Harry Ransom Center
this year, my job is to research and treat this great wall map. I
formulated a conservation treatment plan after consulting with T.K.
McClintock, a conservator with Studio TKM, Ltd., a private conservation
practice that specializes in the treatment of large-scale works on
paper.
Treatment began in October 2019, and the first step was to stabilize
the structure of the map so that it could be safely moved and handled
for subsequent phases of treatment. At some point, the map had been
folded and had gotten wet, resulting in creases, splitting, and tears in
the paper, as well as tideline stains from the water. Paper Conservator
Jane Boyd and I painstakingly consolidated and reattached each area of
fragmented paper on the 70-square-foot map using wheat starch paste and
small brushes.
Once the paper was stabilized, we surface-cleaned the fabric lining
on the back of the map with a HEPA-filtered Nilfisk vacuum on low
suction. This procedure removed surface dirt that had accumulated over
time.
We are continuing our work on the back of the map by removing a
modern hanging rod and fabric strips that are adhered overall to the top
and bottom edges. The rod and strips restricted movement of the map’s
paper and fabric, which subtly expand and contract in response to
environmental humidity and temperature changes. This restriction in
movement has resulted in undulations throughout the map. By removing the
rod and strips, we hope to release some of that tension, and help the
map regain its planarity.
Future treatment steps involve humidification, localized flattening,
and stain reduction. As it is now, the deep creases and water stains
interrupt how a viewer “reads” the map, concealing geographic labels and
drawing the viewer’s eye away from the beautiful and intricate detail
of the map’s imagery. By relaxing the creases and diminshing the stains,
the visual continuity of the map can be clarified and the strain on its
media, paper, and fabric mitigated.
To read the full article and learn more about the treatment of the Blaeu World Map, visit the Ransom Center's website here.
