Tips for Collectors: Safety and Care of Collection
It is always best to display items on interior dividing walls rather than on outer perimeter walls that experience greater climatic variations.
Items should also be kept away from fireplaces (where they can be affected by not only temperature changes but also smoke and soot), air conditioning or heating vents, and bathrooms or other areas with warm running water.
Display your artworks away from any direct light source, including sunlight and picture-frame lights, which can heat the item unevenly and cause fading, burns, or discoloration. UV light is particularly destructive to paper artworks and should be reduced as much as possible. The rule of thumb is, the bluer or "cooler" the light, the more UV it contains.
Indirect sunlight, recessed lighting, ceiling-mounted spotlights and tungsten lamps are the preferred method of illuminating artworks in museum and gallery settings. Keep curtains and shades drawn and shut all lights when the room is not in use. If possible, install UV-filtering film on widows and halogen lights or around fluorescent tubing and halogen lights that lack a UV-filter to further reduce the impact of harmful radiation.
As the effects of light exposure are cumulative, it is best to rotate the artwork on display every three to six months. This is the annual exposure time adopted by many museums.
It is best not to place your artwork in high-traffic and seating areas where accidental damage can easily occur.
Framed paper items should only be mounted and matted with museum-standard acid-free materials, which have are neutral or alkaline (have a pH of 7 or above). Items in contact with acidic materials can experience mat burns, tape stains, and general darkening. Works of art on paper should also be framed behind UV-filtering glazing to reduce the impact of light exposure.
Ensure that your items are properly framed to museum standards with a protective paper backing to block environmental stresses and proper hanging hardware, attached to the frame rather than to the item's structural supports. Hang items from picture hooks, rather than nails, and always make sure that there are enough in place to properly support the weight of the item. If in doubt, a professional art installer can assist you in determining the best display and hanging system for your collection.
Artwork, particularly paintings, should only be cleaned every four to six months after a close inspection to make sure that there is no loose or flaking paint, and only with soft, white-bristle Japanese brushes, sable brushes or badger-hair brushes. Feather dusters can scratch the surfaces, while liquid or commercial cleaners can irreversibly damage the integrity of the image layer.
Artworks should be kept clear from pesticides, foggers, air fresheners and furniture sprays. They should be removed from any area where painting, plastering, wallpapering or steam cleaning will occur, and returned only after the walls and floors are completely dry.
When moving artworks, ensure that the pathway is clear of all potential obstacles. Hold the item by the sides, with the flat of your hand, and carry it facing towards you. Remove any items of jewelry or clothing that could accidentally scratch the surface. And always make sure that you have the necessary assistance to properly support the item's weight. For longer moves, it may be best to contact a professional art handler.
Items should be stored in interior closets or similar spaces, wrapped in archival materials as necessary. Preferable is a designated "art closet" fitted with horizontal racks and a locked door. Artwork should never be stored in attics, basements or garages, which can all experience extreme temperature changes and are susceptible to water damage.
Framed artwork should be stored vertically back to front, with a stiff board protecting the image surface.
Stored works of art on paper should be wrapped in neutral glassine or tissue or slipped into folders made from acid-free paper and then placed into archival storage boxes. They should never be wrapped in cellophane, wax paper or newspaper, stored against wood or cardboard, or curled inside tubes. These materials can either cause moisture condensation or acidic materials to come into contact with the artworks or cause creasing.
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