Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. RE: Museum Wax 2. RE: Museum Wax 3. Survey for Conservators of Wax Seals 4. RE: Museum Wax ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: Becky Helliwell Posted: Thursday June 19, 2025 10:11 PM Subject: RE: Museum Wax Message: Hello from NZ, My colleagues have undertaken research over the last few years on using dots of Lascaux 303HV as an alternative to Museum Gel and Quake Wax, both of which are problematic. Research is ongoing, but their initial findings were published in Studies in Conservation, Vol 68, 2023 - Issue 1 Finding a Temporary Adhesive for Securing Objects for Display in Earthquake-Prone Regions https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00393630.2021.1984091 They also presented at the IMF in 2020 and published in the Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering Denize S, Velagapudi N, Fryer E. 2020. You Can Stick It: Tips on the Use of Lascaux 303 for Temporarily Securing Museum Objects on Display. 7th International Mountmakers Forum (IMF 2020), 26–29 October. Online conference. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373596326_Seismic_protection_of_artefacts_with_adhesives_and_base-isolation We recently used Lascaux 303HV dots during a temporary ceramics exhibition when a variety of sizes and weights of ceramics were on open display and were pleased with how they performed. Research is ongoing into residues and longitudinal performance. King regards, Becky ------------------------------ Becky Helliwell Assistant Conservator Canterbury Museum Christchurch New Zealand ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 06-17-2025 06:31 From: Martin O'Brien Subject: Museum Wax Linda and community, What would you (or other members) recommend as an alternative to Museum Wax? Although, I've never used the "clear gel", I do use their regular product fairly often with wooden artifacts, frames and furniture and have noticed staining on rare occasion. I am more concerned with what I do not see. Also, is the clear gel more prone to this residue than the other 'Museum Wax' products? I believe there has been posting in the last few years about this. I think a recipe for a more archival/less intrusive product was shared or published somewhere decades ago, perhaps in the Cons Dist List?? or maybe a conference. I confess I've fallen for the word 'Museum' in many products. Many thanks Linda, for bringing this issue up! ------------------------------ Martin O'Brien PA-AIC Wooden Artifact Conservator in Private Practice Winston Salem, NC 336-773-1334 ------------------------------ Original Message: Sent: 06-15-2025 23:08 From: Linda Roundhill Subject: Museum Wax I don't know what is in Museum Wax, but a client of mine used the clear Museum Gel on his ceramics and over time a silicone-like oil sweated out and stained the porous parts of the ceramic fairly permanently and made it mighty difficult to treat the pieces when one of them broke. Beware Museum Gel ! I wish we could pressure them to they would stop selling it or at least remove "Museum" from its name. Linda R ------------------------------ Linda Roundhill Conservator/Owner Art & Antiquities Conservation, LLC Everett United States Original Message: Sent: 06-06-2025 09:00 From: K.E. van Lookeren Campagne Subject: Museum Wax Dear Colleagues Has anyone undertaken research into Museum Wax an/or Museum Gel? In the US it is also known as Quakehold and in Europe it is sold under the name Crystaline Clear Museum Wax. As it is used to secure museum objects (often on other museum objects) it could be presumed that the composition is known and some research has been undertaken. I can only find vague references to it being a mixture of microcrystalline and petroleum wax. Any information or experience would be helpful. Kate van Lookeren Campagne Amsterdam University Department Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage [email protected] <[email protected]> 2.From: Christian Mueller-Straten Posted: Thursday June 19, 2025 10:12 PM Subject: RE: Museum Wax Message: I'd like to add why I suggested in my previous post that the tags "museum wax" and "museum gel" should be separated. Firstly, the manufacturer of "museum gel", Crystalline Clear, also offers "museum wax" in similar packaging, but they are two completely different products – in this case, a microcrystalline wax derived from petroleum, a commercial blend formerly known as "Be still my art" or "Tacky Wax." Confusingly, both products are marketed as earthquake protection. Secondly, "museum wax" based on real beeswax is also available in parts of the world. It has a completely different use (care of wooden surfaces). There is another similar product that occasionally causes confusion due to its unusual marketing name: "Renaissance Wax," a microcrystalline wax that is primarily intended to protect metal from rust. It is regarded as a better protection than gun oils such as „Ballistol" which remain slightly sticky after applying. In the case of Crystalline Clear's "Museum Wax," Deffner & Johann also emphasizes that it should only be used temporarily as a ceramic adhesive: "...during photoshoots." It should be used to temporarily secure the object for later, proper bonding. Retailer Waller of Long Life for Art emphasizes: "For securing fragile objects to shelves, pedestals, display cases, and for photography....It also works well as a temporary "fixative" "to secure objects for cleaning, repair, or photography." Waller even explicitly warns: "Not for: heavy, large objects, porous or freshly painted surfaces, felt, and textiles." (https://llfa.de/museumswachs.html <https://llfa.de/museumswachs.html>) Similarly, PEL writes: "Performs well as a temporary "glue" to hold items in place while being cleaned, repaired, or photographed." PEL also warns: "Only use on lacquered or finished surfaces (non-porous). Stain can be left behind on unfinished (porous) surfaces." It's not classified by PEL as a permanent adhesive, but as a "display material"! (https://www.preservationequipment.com/Catalogue/Display-Products/Display-Identification/Museum-Wax <https://www.preservationequipment.com/Catalogue/Display-Products/Display-Identification/Museum-Wax>) ------------------------------ [Christian] [Mueller-Straten] [Researcher, Publisher, Art Historian] [Owner] [Verlag Dr. Christian Mueller-Straten] [Munich] [Germany] [0049-89-839 690 43] [https://www.museum-aktuell.de] https://www.museum-aktuell.de/CEO ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 06-18-2025 09:12 From: Gregory Bailey Subject: Museum Wax See the following publication for an evaluation of substitutes for temporarily securing artifacts: Velagapudi, N., Fryer, E., Murray, S., Ramsdale, K., Denize, S., & Adshead, S. (2021). Finding a Temporary Adhesive for Securing Objects for Display in Earthquake-Prone Regions. Studies in Conservation, 68(1), 36–42. https://doi.org/10.1080/00393630.2021.1984091 <https://doi.org/10.1080/00393630.2021.1984091> ------------------------------ Gregory Bailey Senior Objects Conservator The Walters Art Museum Baltimore MD ------------------------------ Original Message: Sent: 06-17-2025 06:31 From: Martin O'Brien Subject: Museum Wax Linda and community, What would you (or other members) recommend as an alternative to Museum Wax? Although, I've never used the "clear gel", I do use their regular product fairly often with wooden artifacts, frames and furniture and have noticed staining on rare occasion. I am more concerned with what I do not see. Also, is the clear gel more prone to this residue than the other 'Museum Wax' products? I believe there has been posting in the last few years about this. I think a recipe for a more archival/less intrusive product was shared or published somewhere decades ago, perhaps in the Cons Dist List?? or maybe a conference. I confess I've fallen for the word 'Museum' in many products. Many thanks Linda, for bringing this issue up! ------------------------------ Martin O'Brien PA-AIC Wooden Artifact Conservator in Private Practice Winston Salem, NC 336-773-1334 Original Message: Sent: 06-15-2025 23:08 From: Linda Roundhill Subject: Museum Wax I don't know what is in Museum Wax, but a client of mine used the clear Museum Gel on his ceramics and over time a silicone-like oil sweated out and stained the porous parts of the ceramic fairly permanently and made it mighty difficult to treat the pieces when one of them broke. Beware Museum Gel ! I wish we could pressure them to they would stop selling it or at least remove "Museum" from its name. Linda R ------------------------------ Linda Roundhill Conservator/Owner Art & Antiquities Conservation, LLC Everett United States Original Message: Sent: 06-06-2025 09:00 From: K.E. van Lookeren Campagne Subject: Museum Wax Dear Colleagues Has anyone undertaken research into Museum Wax an/or Museum Gel? In the US it is also known as Quakehold and in Europe it is sold under the name Crystaline Clear Museum Wax. As it is used to secure museum objects (often on other museum objects) it could be presumed that the composition is known and some research has been undertaken. I can only find vague references to it being a mixture of microcrystalline and petroleum wax. Any information or experience would be helpful. Kate van Lookeren Campagne Amsterdam University Department Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage [email protected] <[email protected]> 3.From: Lidia Nowak Posted: Thursday June 19, 2025 10:12 PM Subject: Survey for Conservators of Wax Seals Message: Help Needed for My Master’s Thesis! I’m currently working on my master’s thesis and would greatly appreciate your support! I’ve created a short survey for WAX SEALS CONSERVATORS that will contribute to my research, and your insights would be incredibly valuable. It only takes a 5 minutes to complete and all responses are anonymous. Link to the survey:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1DAt6KntHePDylWZQ2P2QNm9zYkPU4UW8Qi-6bBHObP0/edit#responses <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1DAt6KntHePDylWZQ2P2QNm9zYkPU4UW8Qi-6bBHObP0/edit#responses> Whether or not the topic is directly related to your field, your participation will really help me move forward with my academic journey. Feel free to share this survey with your network – the more responses, the better! Thank you in advance for your time and support! ------------------------------ [Lidia] [Nowak] [Conservator] [National Archives in Warsaw] [Warsaw] [Poland] ------------------------------ 4.From: Martin O'Brien Posted: Thursday June 19, 2025 10:13 PM Subject: RE: Museum Wax Message: Gregory, Thank you for the reference! ------------------------------ Martin O'Brien PA-AIC Wooden Artifact Conservator in Private Practice Winston Salem, NC 336-773-1334 ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 06-18-2025 09:12 From: Gregory Bailey Subject: Museum Wax See the following publication for an evaluation of substitutes for temporarily securing artifacts: Velagapudi, N., Fryer, E., Murray, S., Ramsdale, K., Denize, S., & Adshead, S. (2021). Finding a Temporary Adhesive for Securing Objects for Display in Earthquake-Prone Regions. Studies in Conservation, 68(1), 36–42. https://doi.org/10.1080/00393630.2021.1984091 <https://doi.org/10.1080/00393630.2021.1984091> ------------------------------ Gregory Bailey Senior Objects Conservator The Walters Art Museum Baltimore MD ------------------------------ Original Message: Sent: 06-17-2025 06:31 From: Martin O'Brien Subject: Museum Wax Linda and community, What would you (or other members) recommend as an alternative to Museum Wax? Although, I've never used the "clear gel", I do use their regular product fairly often with wooden artifacts, frames and furniture and have noticed staining on rare occasion. I am more concerned with what I do not see. Also, is the clear gel more prone to this residue than the other 'Museum Wax' products? I believe there has been posting in the last few years about this. I think a recipe for a more archival/less intrusive product was shared or published somewhere decades ago, perhaps in the Cons Dist List?? or maybe a conference. I confess I've fallen for the word 'Museum' in many products. Many thanks Linda, for bringing this issue up! ------------------------------ Martin O'Brien PA-AIC Wooden Artifact Conservator in Private Practice Winston Salem, NC 336-773-1334 Original Message: Sent: 06-15-2025 23:08 From: Linda Roundhill Subject: Museum Wax I don't know what is in Museum Wax, but a client of mine used the clear Museum Gel on his ceramics and over time a silicone-like oil sweated out and stained the porous parts of the ceramic fairly permanently and made it mighty difficult to treat the pieces when one of them broke. Beware Museum Gel ! I wish we could pressure them to they would stop selling it or at least remove "Museum" from its name. Linda R ------------------------------ Linda Roundhill Conservator/Owner Art & Antiquities Conservation, LLC Everett United States Original Message: Sent: 06-06-2025 09:00 From: K.E. van Lookeren Campagne Subject: Museum Wax Dear Colleagues Has anyone undertaken research into Museum Wax an/or Museum Gel? In the US it is also known as Quakehold and in Europe it is sold under the name Crystaline Clear Museum Wax. As it is used to secure museum objects (often on other museum objects) it could be presumed that the composition is known and some research has been undertaken. I can only find vague references to it being a mixture of microcrystalline and petroleum wax. Any information or experience would be helpful. Kate van Lookeren Campagne Amsterdam University Department Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage [email protected] <[email protected]> You are subscribed to "Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList)" as [email protected]. 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