Terminologies/Definitions

In this section, I will be explaining all the necessary terminologies and definitions used in the field of conservation/restoration.

Conservator-Restorer

The activity of the conservator-restorer (conservation) consists of technical examination, preservation, and conservation-restoration of cultural property: Examination is the preliminary procedure taken to determine the documentary significance of an artefact; original structure and materials; the extent of its deterioration, alteration, and loss; and the documentation of these findings. Preservation is action taken to retard or prevent deterioration of or damage to cultural properties by control of their environment and/or treatment of their structure in order to maintain them as nearly as possible in an unchanging state. Restoration is action taken to make a deteriorated or damaged artefact understandable, with minimal sacrifice of aesthetic and historic integrity.

Conservator-restorer work in museums, in official heritage protection services, in private conservation enterprises or independently. Their task is to comprehend the material aspect of objects of historic and artistic significance in order to prevent their decay and to enhance our understanding of them so as further the distinction between what is original and what is spurious.

Conservation

All measures and actions aimed at safeguarding tangible cultural heritage while ensuring its accessibility to present and future generations. Conservation embraces preventive conservation, remedial conservation and restoration. All measures and actions should respect the significance and the physical properties of the cultural heritage item.

Restoration

All actions directly applied to a single and stable item aimed at facilitating its appreciation, understanding and use. These actions are only carried out when the item has lost part of its significance or function through past alteration or deterioration. They are based on respect for the original material. Most often such actions modify the appearance of the item.

Preservation

The protection of cultural property through activities that minimise chemical and physical deterioration and damage and that prevent loss of informational content. The primary goal of preservation is to prolong the existence of cultural property.

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Conservation Specialties

Archeology

Objects, structures, and sites that constitute the archeological record

Architecture

Immovable properties such as buildings, monuments, and outdoor sculpture

Book and Paper

Paper materials including art on paper, books, manuscripts, and library material

Electronic Media

Conservation of artworks and cultural heritage employing durational, digital, electronic media, and 20th and 21st-century technologies

Objects

Archeological and cultural materials from indigenous communities, decorative arts, and sculpture

Paintings

Paintings in oil, acrylic, or mixed media and their supports, coatings, and varnishes

Photographic Materials

Media in film and composite objects like paper prints and albums

Preventive Conservation

Assessing and managing deterioration risks for all collection types

Textiles

Objects include carpets, tapestries, clothing, upholstered furniture, fibre art, and more

Wooden Artefacts

Ethnographic carvings, furniture, upholstery, frames, and veneer/marquetry/boulle

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Internships

Paid or unpaid positions that are typically short-term and/or part-time. Emerging conservation professionals may complete internships at different points in their early career: while preparing for graduate training (pre-program internships); while enrolled in a graduate program to supplement coursework or meet graduation requirements (part-time internships, summer internships, or final year internship placements); and occasionally, immediately following the completion of an advanced degree.

Fellowships

Specifically designed for emerging conservation professionals who have recently completed an advanced degree in conservation, preservation, science, or related fields (Masters or PhD). Generally, they are paid term positions that are full-time and last 1-3 years.