The interface of art, science, and conservation is an exciting place. That's what we at the Metropolitan Museum of Art discovered in June 2002 when we hosted a three-day symposium that brought these areas together. The first such conference ever held at the Met, the Art, Biology, and Conservation 2002 meeting provided an opportunity for close to 40 scientists and conservators to present their latest research on the interactions of microbes and art, and to offer approaches to counter the effects of biodeterioration.
As I noted at the time, no work of art is immune to microbial attack. Microbes, being cosmopolitan, are a threat to art collections worldwide, as they are always present in the environment, lying dormant, and waiting for the right conditions to occur so they can flourish. Such conditions include subtle environment changes, such as a temporary increase in moisture level, as well as major events, such as a water leak; both can foster an infestation within just hours. Whether this leads to serious damage depends on many factors, including the material composition of the art, the amount of water present, the species of microbe on the art, and how long conditions are favorable for growth. Once such mishaps occur, the work of scientists and conservators becomes vital, as they strive to protect our often fragile cultural heritage.
The papers in this volume detail the work of the select group of biologists and conservators that came together at ABC2002 to show how they are addressing these concerns. A wonderfully diverse group, they had in common a desire to preserve the historic and the beautiful, the skills to do so, and an excitement about the whole process. I think that excitement comes through in this volume as well.
Director's Introduction
Philippe de Montebello, Director, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Acknowledgments
Robert J. Koestler, Research Scientist, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Symposium Chair
Special Topics
The Evaluation of Biodeterioration Processes on Cultural Objects and Approaches for Their Effective Control
Th. Warscheid
Preserving the Timbers of the Tudor Warship Mary Rose
A.M. Jones, R. Mouzouras, A.J. Pitman, and S.B. Pointing
Biodeterioration Studies on Pastels and Oil-Based Paintings
M. Berovič
Chemical and Microbiological Causes of Deterioration of Toothbrushes That Used to Belong to Prisoners of Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp: Research and Methods of Their Conservation
A. Strzelczyk and H.E. Rosa
Collateral Damage: Anthrax, Gas, and Radiation
D. Erhardt, C.S. Tumosa, D. von Endt, and A.-S.M. El-Easely
Paper
An Introduction to Tiffany Studies
A.M. Baldwin
Studies of Fungal Infestations of Tiffany's Drawings: Limits and Advantages of Classical and Molecular Techniques
M.P. Di Bonaventura, R. DeSalle, D.E. Eveleigh, A.M. Baldwin, and R.J. Koestler
Enzymatic Approach to Removal of Fungal Spots from Drawings on Paper
F.E. Nieto-Fernandez, S.A. Centeno, M.T. Wypyski, M.P. Di Bonaventura, A.M. Baldwin, and R.J. Koestler
Artworks, Drawings, Prints, and Documents—Fungi Eat Them All!
H.M. Szczepanowska and A.R. Cavaliere
Practical Applications of Enzymes in Paper Conservation
Y. Van Dyke
Fungal-Problem Monitoring for Heritage Collections: The Need for Baseline Reference Levels for Fungal Structures and Beta-Glucans
M.-L.E. Florian
Textiles
Characterization of Bacteria Isolated from Naturally Aged Silk Fibroin
O. Ciferri, M.E. Becker, and E. De Rossi
Stone and Mural Paintings
Microbial Communities in Caves: Ecology, Physiology, and Effects on Paleolithic Paintings
L. Laiz, J.M. Gonzalez, and C. Saiz-Jimenez
Red Stains on Carrara Marble: A Case Study of the Certosa of Pavia, Italy
E. Zanardini, P. Abbruscato, L. Scaramelli, E. Onelli, M. Realini, G. Patrignani, and C. Sorlini
Microbial Processes in the Deterioration of Maya Archaeological Buildings in Southern Mexico
C. McNamara, T.D. Perry, M. Zinn, M. Breuker, R. Müller, G. Hernandez-Duque, and R. Mitchell
Microbiodeterioration of Mural Paintings: A Review
J. Karbowska-Berent
Methodological Approaches to the Study of Stone Alteration Caused by Cyanobacterial Biofilms in Hypogean Environments
P. Albertano
Study of Microbial Communities Colonizing Hypogean Monument Surfaces Using Nondestructive and Destructive Sampling Methods
C. Urzi, F. Deo Leo, P. Donato, and V. La Cono
Wood and Archaeological Materials
Deterioration in Historic and Archaeological Woods from Terrestrial Sites
R.A. Blanchette
Degradation Patterns in Waterlogged Wood and the Two-Step Peg Treatment for Large Archaeological Finds: The Case of the Bremen Cog
P. Hoffmann
The Conservation of the Wooden Objects from Gordion, Turkey: Methods for the Treatment of Dry Archaeological Wood
E. Simpson
Deterioration and Conservation Issues Associated with Antarctica's Historic Huts
B.W. Held, R.A. Blanchette, J.A. Jurgens, S. Duncan, and R.L. Farrell
Evaluating the Wooden Remnants of the Tektaş Burnu Shipwreck
J.A. Jurgens, R.A. Blanchette, and D.N. Carlson
Treatment and Prevention
Visual Assessment of Biocide Effects on Japanese Paint Materials
J. Suzuki and R.J. Koestler
Anoxic Eradication of Fungi in Wooden Objects
C. Tavzes, J. Pohleven, F. Pohleven, and R.J. Koestler
Microbial Impurity of Conservation Treatment Waters
V. Bullock
Consequences of Microbe-Biofilm-Salt Interactions for Stone Integrity in Monuments
E. May, S. Papida, and H. Abdulla
Mechanisms of Microbial Calcium Carbonate Precipitation
C. Barabesi, E. Tamburini, G. Mastromei, and B. Perito
Biomediated Calcite Precipitation for the Reinforcement of Monumental Stones
P. Tiano, S. Bracci, and S. Rescic
Biological Mortars: A Solution for Stone Sculpture Conservation
G. Orial, Th. Vieweger, and J.-F. Loubiere
Biocides and Treatment of Stone: Limitations and Future Prospects
M.P. Nugari and O. Salvadori
The Use of Metallic Oxides in Control of Biological Growth on Outdoor Monuments
D.P. Wessel
Endnote
In Defense of the Fungi
A.R. Cavaliere
Author Index
Contact List