Product Description

The Museum Environment is in two parts; Part I: intended for conservators and museum curators and describes the principles and techniques of controlling the environment so that the potentially damaging effects of light, humidity and air pollution on museum exhibits may be minimised. Part II: the author brings together and summarises information and data, hitherto widely scattered in the literature of diverse fields, which is essential to workers in conservation research.

Since the timely publication of the first two editions of this book in hardback, interest in preventive conservation has continued to grow strongly making publication of this paperback edition all the more welcome. Those whose responsibility it is to care for the valuable and beautiful objects in the world's collections have become increasingly aware that it is better to prevent their deterioration, by ensuring that they are housed and displayed in the best possible environmental conditions, than to wait until restoration and repair are necessary. The changes for the second edition have been mainly concentrated in the sections on electronic hygrometry, new fluorescent lamps, buffered cases, air conditioning systems, data logging, and control within historic buildings. A new appendix, giving a summary of museum specificiations for conservation, provides a useful, quick reference.

* New paperback edition of successful text
* Now at lower price
* Essential reading for conservators and museum curators and scientists

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #205848 in Books
• Published on: 1994-03-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 308 pages

Review
'...fills a gap in conservation literature which has been evident for years...will become a standard work which is consulted by conservators and museum scientists for years to come.' - The Conservator '...an admirable model textbook which sets out the logic of conservation, and its measurements and tools, with an irreproachable dry brevity.'
Royal Institute of British Architects Journal

'No museum library should be without a copy.'
Museum News

'(An) authoritative guide'
Museum Practice

Customer Reviews

The father of museum studies lays down the fundamentals
As a third-year student of "Museologia" (museum science) in Italy, i have found finding research material very difficult. As a very "young" field in itself (only being recognised in 1955) Museum Science has few textbooks as such. So, after hearing about "The Museum Environment" i managed to obtain a very beaten copy of it, (having left my promise to the owner to not lose it on pain of death!). It soon became clear why he was so anxious about the copy going missing, this book is a fountain of wisdom for those in the Museum, Conservation or restoration fields. It is divided into two sections, the first more technical and the second more concerned with the practicalities involved in the exposition of a work of art. There are several aspects to this process, from the physics involved in finding and maintaining the exact light and humidity levels relevent for an object on display, to the psycology behind displaying an object to appeal to the maximum range of human perception. There are also interesting passages on the practical organisation of space, and the movement and flow of people "en masse" through an exhibition. If you are involved directly in Museum work or related areas, this book will be most interesting to you, and may even surprise you. However, if you are not directly interested in these fields, the book is too specific to be generally read. I have ordered my own copy and am sure it will very well thumbed through!