Conservation of Historic Stone Buildings and Monuments (1982) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
The Scientist's Role in Historic Preservation with Particular Reference to Stone Conservation
The Scientist's Role in Historic Preservation with Particular Reference to Stone Conservation
Pages 13-21
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 13... ...
Relevant Giorgio Torraca is Deputy Director, International Center for the Study of the Preservation and the Restoration of Cultural Property, Rome.
|
From page 14... ...
Scientific concepts and modern materials have obviously influenced modem conservation practice, but only insofar as they have been absorbed, more or less correctly, by the conservators who tned to adapt them to their needs. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Some of the difficulties met in the transformation of scientific ideas into conservation processes are common to any branch of technology.
|
From page 15... ...
As a consequence of the frequent reluctance on the part of scientists to become involved with practical conservation, the conservators seldom enjoy the services of technologists and of laboratories applying sound testing procedures. Thus conservators are frequently tempted to take over the entire sequence of operations: experiment, application, evaluation of results.
|
From page 16... ...
On one hand, the conservator tends to improve his scientific background and to do his own research and development; on the other, the specialized scientist expands his activity to cover the whole field down to the production line. A substantial improvement in conservation practice may be brought about only by more technological experimentation and more testing, under the condition that these be carried out by people and laboratories who are specialized in this kind of activity and are not emotionally involved (that is, people who have not invented a new process nor executed the job they must evaluate)
|
From page 17... ...
Above all, he should never invent a new conservation process. The ideal technologist would also understand that conservation requirements cover such a wide field that it is almost impossible to find an absence of conflicting requirements in any real problem (e.g., authenticity versus mechanical strength)
|
From page 18... ...
, he can cut his way through a multivariable problem more efficiently than the scientist, who is accustomed to proceeding by logical steps and may have trouble identifying which variable is the relevant one. Mixtures concocted by conservators for cleaning or protection purposes have frequently proved surprisingly successful when submitted to comparative tests with other products available on the market or prepared by scientists.
|
From page 19... ...
The number of variables is enormous (particularly for objects exposed directly to the environment) , deadlines tare stringent (serious damage may take place in a short time)
|
From page 20... ...
The interplay between the general requirements of the theory and the facts resulting from analysis and practical experience is the basis of ah scientific progress. STONE CONSERVATION PRACTICE Conservation of stone exposed to the environment requires the establishment of conservation policies rather than new conservation processes.
|
From page 21... ...
To do so, we must go outside the bounds of our fields of competence and work in close contact with fellow scientists from different disciplines and with nonscientists of variable backgrounds. That such a collaboration is extremely difficult is the plague, but also the beauty, of professional work in conservation.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.