Conservation techniques

The procedures, instruments, techniques, materials and chemicals used in conservation and archiving.

preservation techniques
archiving techniques
conservation technique

knowledge

sector-specific

Conservation techniques is an essential knowledge of the following occupations:

Furniture restorer: Furniture restorers analyse materials and techniques in order to assess the state of an old piece of furniture and to identify and classify it according to art and cultural history. They use old or modern tools and techniques to restore the piece and give advice to customers as to the restoration, conservation and maintenance of such objects.
Exhibition registrar: Exhibition registrars organise, manage and document movement of museum artefacts to and from storage, display and exhibitions. This happens in collaboration with private or public partners such as art transporters, insurers and restorers, within the museum and outside.
Collection manager: Collection managers ensure the care and preservation of objects within cultural institutions, like museums, libraries, and archives. Collection managers, along with exhibition curators, and conservators, play a very important role in collections care. They can be found in most large museums.
Taxidermist: Taxidermists mount and reproduce deceased animals or parts of animals such as trofy heads for the purpose of public display and education, such as in a museum or monument, or for other sources of scientific study, or for a private collection.
Archivist: Archivists assess, collect, organise, preserve and provide access to records and archives. Records maintained are in any format, analogue or digital and include several kinds of media (documents, photographs, video and sound recordings, etc.).
Archive manager: Archive managers ensure the care and preservation of a cultural institution and the archives within. Archive managers, along with curators, and conservators, play a very important role in the care of the institution and all the collections within.

Conservation techniques is optional for these occupations. This means knowing this knowledge may be an asset for career advancement if you are in one of these occupations.

Stringed musical instrument maker: Stringed musical instrument makers create and assemble parts to create stringed instruments according to specified instructions or diagrams. They sand wood, measure and attach strings, test quality of strings and inspect the finished instrument.
Historian: Historians research, analyze, interpret, and present the past of human societies. They analyse documents, sources, and traces from the past in order to understand the past societies.
Clock and watchmaker: Clock and watchmakers make mechanical or electronic clocks and watches. They use precision hand tools or automated machinery to assemble the timing devices. Clock and watchmakers may also repair clocks or watches. They can work in workshops or in factories.
Harpsichord maker: Harpsichord makers create and assemble parts to make harpsichords according to specified instructions or diagrams. They sand wood, tune, test and inspect the finished instrument.
Archaeologist: Archaeologists research and study past civilisations and settlements through collecting and inspecting material remains. They analyse and draw conclusions on a wide array of matters such as hierarchy systems, linguistics, culture, and politics based on the study of objects, structures, fossils, relics, and artifacts left behind by these peoples. Archaeologists utilise various interdisciplinary methods such as stratigraphy, typology, 3D analysis, mathematics, and modelling.
Commercial art gallery manager: Commercial art gallery managers manage the commercial and artistic success of the gallery.
Art handler: Art handlers are trained individuals who work directly with objects in museums and art galleries. They work in coordination with exhibition registrars, collection managers, conservator-restorers and curators, among others, to ensure that objects are safely handled and cared for. Often they are responsible for packing and unpacking art, installing and deinstalling art in exhibitions, and moving art around the museum and storage spaces.
Guitar maker: Guitar makers create and assemble parts to build guitars according to specified instructions or diagrams. They work wood, measure and attach strings, test quality of strings and inspect the finished instrument.
Wicker furniture maker: Wicker furniture makers choose and prepare materials such as softened rattan or willow branches in order to produce wicker furniture such as chairs, tables and couches. They use hand, power or machine tools to cut, bend and weave materials to create the desired objects. Finally, they treat the surface to ensure a finished look and protect it from corrosion and fire using waxes, lacquers and other coatings.
Piano maker: Piano makers create and assemble parts to make pianos according to specified instructions or diagrams. They sand wood, tune, test and inspect the finished instrument.
Membranophone musical instruments maker: Membranophone musical instruments makers create and assemble parts to make membranophone instruments to specified instructions or diagrams. They stretch and attach the membrane to the frame of the instrument, test the quality and inspect the finished instrument.
Archaeology lecturer: Archaeology lecturers are subject professors, teachers, or lecturers who instruct students who have obtained an upper secondary education diploma in their own specialised field of study, archaeology, which is predominantly academic in nature. They work with university research assistants and university teaching assistants for the preparation of lectures and of exams, for grading papers and exams and for leading review and feedback sessions for the students. They also conduct academic research in their respective field of archaeology, publish their findings and liaise with other university colleagues.
Keyboard musical instrument maker: Keyboard musical instrument makers create and assemble parts to create keyboard instruments according to specified instructions or diagrams. They sand wood, tune, test and inspect the finished instrument.
Organ builder: Organ builders create and assemble parts to build organs according to specified instructions or diagrams. They sand wood, tune, test and inspect the finished instrument.
Violin maker: Violin makers create and assemble parts to create violins according to specified instructions or diagrams. They sand wood, measure and attach strings, test quality of strings and inspect the finished instrument.
Idiophone musical instruments maker: Idiophone musical instruments makers create and assemble parts to make idiophone instruments to specified instructions or diagrams. They shape, drill, sand and string the parts that are mostly made out of glass, metal, ceramics or wood, clean, test the quality and inspect the finished instrument.
Electronic musical instrument maker: Electronic musical instrument makers create and assemble parts to make electronic instruments according to specified instructions or diagrams. They install and test electric pick-ups, clean and inspect the finished instrument.
Wind musical instrument maker: Wind musical instrument makers create and assemble parts to make wind instruments according to specified instructions and diagrams. They measure and cut the tubing for the resonator, assemble parts such as braces, slides, valves, piston, bell heads and mouth pieces, test and inspect the finished instrument.
Furniture finisher: Furniture finishers treat the surface of wood furniture using hand and power tools to sand, clean and polish. They apply wood coatings onto wooden surfaces by using different techniques such as brushing or using a spray gun. They choose and apply the right coatings with protective and/or decorative purposes.

References

1. Conservation techniques – ESCO