Conservation of Plaster Casts

A collection of papers that examines the role that plaster itself plays in the process of creating a sculpture. There is an outline of the history of plaster casts and deals with the techniques of conservation including cleaning, consolidation, gluing, reintegration and preventive conservation and conservation surveys. The contributors refer to the available published knowledge on the subject and add their new findings based on many years of experience and the evaluation of laboratory tests.

This book, which includes a wide range of illustrations, focuses on the issues associated with the conservation, storage and display of plaster casts, reflecting on the past and reporting on the present. It examines the role that plaster itself plays in the process of making a sculpture, outlines the history of plaster casts and deals with the techniques of conservation including cleaning, consolidation, gluing, reintegration and preventive conservation and conservation surveys. The authors refer to the available published knowledge on the subject and add their new findings based on many years of experience and the evaluation of laboratory tests.

Preface Acknowledgements 1 Introduction to the issue of plaster casts Jakub Doubal 2 A brief history of plaster casts Barbora Glombova and Jakub Doubal 3 The technology behind the making of casts Martin Kulhanek and Jakub Doubal 3.1 Mould making 3.2 Casting 4 Surface finishes Barbora Glombova and Jakub Doubal 5 Characteristics of gypsum binder and plaster casts Renata Tislova, Jakub Doubal and Petra Zitkova 5.1 The composition of gypsum binder 5.2 Production of gypsum binder 5.3 Hydration of hemihydrate plaster 5.4 Influence of admixtures 5.5 Microstructural properties of plaster casts 5.6 Absorption capacity and hygroscopicity of plaster casts 5.7 Sensitivity of plaster casts to high temperature 5.8 Solubility 5.9 Mechanical properties of plaster casts 6 Damage to plaster casts Renata Tislova, Jakub Doubal and Petra Zitkova 6.1 Mechanical damage 6.2 Damage due to water, high humidity and heat 6.3 Degradation of fittings and reinforcements 6.4 Secondary repairs and interventions 6.5 Soiling 6.6 Damage to surface finishes and polychromy 7 Research into plaster casts Jakub Doubal and Renata Tislova 7.1 Compiling information about the history of works of art and iconographic data 7.2 Visual inspection of the work 7.3 Extended chemical-technological research 8 Introduction to conservation issues Jakub Doubal 9 Cleaning Pavel Mrovec and Jakub Doubal 9.1 Criteria for selecting the cleaning method 9.2 Cleaning methods 9.3 Plaster cast cleaning: case studies 9.4 Conclusion 10 Consolidation Petra Zitkova, Renata Tislova and Jakub Doubal 10.1 Consolidation selection criteria 10.2 Materials used for plaster consolidation 10.3 Methods and conditions of application of consolidants 10.4 Consolidation: case studies 10.5 Conclusion 11 Gluing Renata Tislova, Jakub Doubal, Petra Zitkova and Aneta Kokstejnova 11.1 Criteria for choosing an adhesive 11.2 Adhesives used for gluing 11.3 Gluing plaster casts: case studies 11.4 Conclusion 12 Integrating and retouching Jakub Doubal, Barbora Glombova and Petra Zitkova 12.1 Filling 12.2 Retouching 12.3 Plaster cast integration and retouching: case studies 12.4 Conclusion 13 Conditions for the storage and transport of plaster casts Martin Kulhanek, Jakub Doubal and Petr Rejman 13.1 Conditions for storage and presentation 13.2 Manipulation of plaster casts and their transport 14 Conclusion Appendix 1: Glossary of damage Appendix 2: Traditional methods for various cast surface finishes Bibliography,

Preface

Acknowledgements 

1 Introduction to the issue of plaster casts
Jakub Ďoubal

2 A brief history of plaster casts
Barbora Glombová and Jakub Ďoubal 

3 The technology behind the making of casts
Martin Kulhánek and Jakub Ďoubal
3.1 Mould making
3.2 Casting 

4 Surface finishes
Barbora Glombová and Jakub Ďoubal 

5 Characteristics of gypsum binder and plaster casts
Renata Tišlová, Jakub Ďoubal and Petra Zítková
5.1 The composition of gypsum binder
5.2 Production of gypsum binder
5.3 Hydration of hemihydrate plaster
5.4 Influence of admixtures
5.5 Microstructural properties of plaster casts
5.6 Absorption capacity and hygroscopicity of plaster casts
5.7 Sensitivity of plaster casts to high temperature
5.8 Solubility
5.9 Mechanical properties of plaster casts 

6 Damage to plaster casts
Renata Tišlová, Jakub Ďoubal and Petra Zítková
6.1 Mechanical damage
6.2 Damage due to water, high humidity and heat
6.3 Degradation of fittings and reinforcements
6.4 Secondary repairs and interventions
6.5 Soiling
6.6 Damage to surface finishes and polychromy 

7 Research into plaster casts
Jakub Ďoubal and Renata Tišlová
7.1 Compiling information about the history of works of art and iconographic data
7.2 Visual inspection of the work
7.3 Extended chemical-technological research

8 Introduction to conservation issues
Jakub Ďoubal

9 Cleaning
Pavel Mrověc and Jakub Ďoubal
9.1 Criteria for selecting the cleaning method
9.2 Cleaning methods
9.3 Plaster cast cleaning: case studies
9.4 Conclusion

10 Consolidation
Petra Zítková, Renata Tišlová and Jakub Ďoubal
10.1 Consolidation selection criteria
10.2 Materials used for plaster consolidation
10.3 Methods and conditions of application of consolidants
10.4 Consolidation: case studies
10.5 Conclusion

11 Gluing
Renata Tišlová, Jakub Ďoubal, Petra Zítková and Aneta Kokstejnová
11.1 Criteria for choosing an adhesive
11.2 Adhesives used for gluing
11.3 Gluing plaster casts: case studies
11.4 Conclusion

12 Integrating and retouching
Jakub Ďoubal, Barbora Glombová and Petra Zítková
12.1 Filling
12.2 Retouching
12.3 Plaster cast integration and retouching: case studies
12.4 Conclusion

13 Conditions for the storage and transport of plaster casts
Martin Kulhánek, Jakub Ďoubal and Petr Rejman
13.1 Conditions for storage and presentation
13.2 Manipulation of plaster casts and their transport

14 Conclusion

Appendix 1: Glossary of damage
Appendix 2: Traditional methods for various cast surface finishes

Bibliography

• Edited by Jakub Doubal