{"id":847,"date":"2014-01-12T11:55:00","date_gmt":"2014-01-12T11:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tilesoc.org.uk\/tacs\/?page_id=847"},"modified":"2014-11-23T19:52:20","modified_gmt":"2014-11-23T19:52:20","slug":"caring-tile-collection","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tilesoc.org.uk\/tacs\/conservation\/caring-tile-collection\/","title":{"rendered":"Caring for the Tile Collection"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Practical guidance on simple conservation issues.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The\u00a0 information on these pages is for guidance only\u00a0 we do not accept responsibility as a result of\u00a0 any person carrying out\u00a0 any\u00a0 works\u00a0 according to the advice contained in this web site. Always follow Health and Safety measured described on products, tools and materials. Jackfield Conservation Studioand TACS are\u00a0not responsible for the work which you do, the responsibility is yours and yours alone!<\/p>\n

Decorative ceramics are amongst the most stable group\u00a0of artefacts in any collection. They are relatively sturdy, and\u00a0if left untouched, very durable. Moving, handling and poor storage\u00a0present the greatest risk to tile collections. This data sheet is\u00a0aimed at helping, in the first instance, to prevent any damage to\u00a0tiles, but if damage does occur, carry out simple repairs using\u00a0safe materials.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Storage<\/h2>\n

Do not<\/strong> store tiles flat, one on top of the other,\u00a0downward pressure can cause the tiles at the bottom of the heap\u00a0to fracture. Storage in this fashion also encourages handlers to\u00a0attempt to remove tiles from the bottom of the pile without first\u00a0moving the ones at the top.<\/p>\n

Do not <\/strong>put sticky labels on tiles, the glue can\u00a0stain or damage the surface.<\/p>\n

Do<\/strong> store tiles upright on edge in racks or boxes\u00a0appropriate to the size of the tile<\/p>\n

Each tile should be individually wrapped in acid free tissue paper,\u00a0with a slip of bubble wrap or corrugated cardboard, cut to size,\u00a0between every tile<\/p>\n

The outside of the box or rack should be clearly marked with a\u00a0number plan and inventory of the contents of the box or rack. This\u00a0will deter handlers from \u2019flicking\u2019 through the upright tiles looking
\nfor particular examples and causing possible impact damage in the\u00a0process.<\/p>\n

Wrapping or unwrapping a tile from the acid free tissue should\u00a0be done on a flat surface or table. Never unwrap a tile in the hand.\u00a0Always have a space already cleared where you can put your tiles.<\/p>\n

Do<\/strong> have clean hands when handling, as dirt can\u00a0be absorbed into porous bodies.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Packing<\/h2>\n

Do<\/strong> pack into strong boxes (in the same way as\u00a0described for storage), using plenty of packing to avoid any movement\u00a0of the tiles within the box, if you are to transport your tiles\u00a0any distance at all<\/p>\n

<\/a>Cleaning<\/h2>\n

Do not<\/strong> clean tiles with ordinary tap water, this\u00a0will almost always cause salt growths which can damage the structure\u00a0of the tile between the glaze and the body<\/p>\n

Always use distilled water with a little gentle non-ionic detergent,\u00a0such as \u2019Biotex\u2019 or \u2019Ariel Liquid\u2019. Any national museum with a conservation\u00a0department will tell you which commonly used detergents are non-ionic.<\/p>\n

Soak a cotton wool pad or cotton bud in the solution and gently\u00a0clean the surface of the tile. When the dirt is removed, wipe the\u00a0surface in the same way with plain distilled water, leave the tiles\u00a0to dry on absorbent paper. When dry, gently buff with dry cotton\u00a0wool.<\/p>\n

Broken edges that have absorbed dirt can be gently cleaned with\u00a0a soft tooth brush. Be aware that the glaze near the break may be\u00a0fragile or loose.<\/p>\n

Do<\/strong> use white spirit to remove sticky labels.<\/p>\n

If tiles have been in a smoking environment, e.g. a bar or hotel\u00a0lounge, they may have a brown tar film over the surface, this can\u00a0be removed with methylated spirit.<\/p>\n

If tiles are smoke damaged from fire they can be left to soak in\u00a0distilled water until the smoking has leached out. This may take\u00a0three to four weeks with frequent changes of water when it has become\u00a0brown and dirty.<\/p>\n

Rust stains can sometimes be removed by gently cleaning the affected\u00a0area with a cotton bud dipped in a rust inhibitor that contains\u00a0Phosphoric Acid. Rinse in distilled water afterwards.<\/p>\n

Many organic stains can be removed with a poultice of Hydrogen\u00a0Peroxide 20:100 volume (available from chemists) Always soak the\u00a0whole tile body in distilled water first before applying the poultice,\u00a0if the body is dry the stain may be drawn further into the tile.<\/p>\n

Do not<\/strong> use household bleaches, they can cause\u00a0crystallisation under the glaze.<\/p>\n

Do not <\/strong>use alkaline cleaners, they may affect\u00a0blue glazes.<\/p>\n

Do not <\/strong>use acid cleaners, they may affect red\u00a0glazes<\/p>\n

Do<\/strong> remember that all stains are difficult to remove,\u00a0and some may be permanent<\/p>\n

Do not<\/strong> coat your tiles with any sort of plastic\u00a0or polymer sealant, most are impossible to remove and will eventually\u00a0crack, craze and discolour. Beeswax or linseed preparations are\u00a0equally difficult to remove, they attract dirt and will eventually\u00a0turn black. If a title is unglazed and particularly porous it may\u00a0be coated with a thin application of microcrystalline wax. This\u00a0gives a hard coat and will not turn yellow.<\/p>\n

Do<\/strong> as little to your tiles as possible, allow\u00a0them the dignity and beauty of their age.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Breakages<\/h2>\n

If a tile is broken:<\/p>\n

Do<\/strong> wrap all of the fragments in acid free tissue\u00a0immediately, they will then be kept clean until mending can take\u00a0place.<\/p>\n

If you repair an old mend then all old glue must be removed by\u00a0soaking in warm distilled water.<\/p>\n

Do not<\/strong> use an inappropriate glue for your repair,\u00a0a glue must never be too strong, its strength must not be greater\u00a0than that of the tile body, and it must have an easily available\u00a0solvent.<\/p>\n

Recommended glues are Paraloid B-72 or \u2019Conservation Adhesive\u2019\u00a0(Koob, Studies in Conservation, 31, 1986) or those in the cellulose\u00a0nitrate category.<\/p>\n

Do not<\/strong> use an excessive amount of glue. The thinnest\u00a0smear on both surfaces will suffice, press the broken pieces together\u00a0for a few seconds, place on a flat surface and leave for 24 hours\u00a0to set.<\/p>\n

Do not<\/strong> glue more than two fragments together at\u00a0any one time. Gluing should not be rushed. Clean off any glue on\u00a0the surface of the tile with a little acetone.<\/p>\n

The aim of any conservation repair is a clean, neat and tidy join.\u00a0It does not have to be invisible.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Framing and Mounting<\/h2>\n

When displaying a single tile a wood frame around the tile with\u00a0a hanging device fixed to the wood is effective, however, a simple\u00a0and more importantly, easily reversible, method for mounting tile\u00a0panels is as follows:<\/p>\n

Cut a piece of \u00be” thick blockboard (or a non-flexing\u00a0board) to a size a little larger than your tile panel. Cover the\u00a0face of this board with strips of balsa wood, glued with a wood\u00a0adhesive at intervals corresponding with the joints in your tile\u00a0panel. The balsa wood should be at least 3″ wide to allow the\u00a0edges of adjoining tiles to fit comfortably over the balsa.<\/p>\n

The tiles may then be fixed to the balsa with a small amount of\u00a0reversible glue or adhesive only at each corner of the tile.<\/p>\n

When set, cover the edges of the panel over with any framing material.<\/p>\n

To remove your tiles from the panel, take away the frame, and using\u00a0a scalpel blade with a handle or a craft knife, slice into the sacrificial\u00a0balsa wood layer at the points where the tiles are glued. Lift off the tiles and either carefully trim away any glue and balsa from\u00a0the back of the tile with your scalpel, or soften and remove the\u00a0glue with a solvent.<\/p>\n

Copyright: Lesley Durbin Jackfield Conservation\u00a0Studio\u00a0Nov 2014.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\n

Practical guidance on simple conservation issues.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The\u00a0 information on these pages is for guidance only\u00a0 we do not accept responsibility as a result of\u00a0 any person carrying out\u00a0 any\u00a0 works\u00a0 according to the advice contained in this web site.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

…<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more ›<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":85,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-847","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","responsive-100":"","responsive-150":"","responsive-200":"","responsive-300":"","responsive-450":"","responsive-600":"","responsive-900":"","rpwe-thumbnail":""},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"

Practical guidance on simple conservation issues. The\u00a0 information on these pages is for guidance only\u00a0 we do not accept responsibility as a result of\u00a0 any person carrying out\u00a0 any\u00a0 works\u00a0 according to the advice contained in this web site. Always follow Health and Safety measured described on products, tools and materials. Jackfield Conservation Studioand TACS are\u00a0not responsible for the work which you do, the responsibility is yours and yours alone! Decorative ceramics are amongst the most stable group\u00a0of artefacts in any collection. They are relatively sturdy, and\u00a0if left untouched, very durable. Moving, handling and poor storage\u00a0present the greatest risk to…<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"Uncategorized","author_info_v2":{"name":"admin","url":"https:\/\/tilesoc.org.uk\/tacs\/author\/admin\/"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","yoast_head":"\r\nCaring for the Tile Collection - Tiles & Architectural Ceramics Society (TACS)<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"TACS Conservation Information Sheet on Caring for the Tile Collection. 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