Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Webinar: Invisible touch – Case studies in Mimetic Retouching and the Art of Texture Replication 2. RE: UK Source for heated suction table? 3. RE: Mounting large buffalo hide on near vertical mount 4. NEW Green Tea episode live: Respectful Stewardship with Pejuta Haka Win Red Eagle 5. RE: Mounting large buffalo hide on near vertical mount 6. RE: Mounting large buffalo hide on near vertical mount ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: Phillipa McDonnell Posted: Tuesday February 24, 2026 8:48 AM Subject: Webinar: Invisible touch – Case studies in Mimetic Retouching and the Art of Texture Replication Message: Webinar - This Friday (27th Feb) 1pm GMT Invisible touch: Case studies in Mimetic Retouching and the Art of Texture Replication Mimetic reintegration is one of the most widely used retouching techniques in conservation, but effective retouching involves more than just colour matching - it requires the careful replication of texture and the creation of visual harmony. Drawing on over a decade of practical experience, this webinar will guide participants through the detailed process of mimicking impasto and other textural effects to achieve seamless, invisible retouching. It will also introduce practical techniques, materials, and approaches to support confident decision-making and problem-solving, particularly for those who feel uncertain about retouching. About the speaker Wei-Chan Birkett is a painting conservator specialising in the conservation and restoration of paintings and decorative arts, with over ten years of practical experience working across Asia and the UK. She is currently a Senior Technician at Lincoln Conservation, where she applies her expertise to a wide range of heritage projects involving paintings, gilded frames, and historical decorative objects. https://www.lincolnconservation.co.uk/training/online-webinars/heritage-horizons/heritage-horizons-wcb <https://www.lincolnconservation.co.uk/training/online-webinars/heritage-horizons/heritage-horizons-wcb> <https://www.lincoln.ac.uk> Situated in the heart of a historic city, the University of Lincoln is committed to transforming lives and communities through our teaching and research. We are listed in the world's top 150 universities in the Times Higher Education's (THE) Young University Rankings 2024 and hold a five-star score overall in the QS Stars rating system of global universities. We are one of a select group of universities to achieve the top Gold rating overall and in both aspect ratings for student experience and student outcomes in the national Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. We were awarded the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Further and Higher Education in 2023. The information in this e-mail and any attachments may be confidential. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender immediately and remove it from your system. Do not disclose the contents to another person or take copies. Email is not secure and may contain viruses. The University of Lincoln makes every effort to ensure email is sent without viruses, but cannot guarantee this and recommends recipients take appropriate precautions. The University may monitor email traffic data and content in accordance with its policies and English law. Further information can be found at:https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/legal <https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/legal>. 2.From: Tomasz Lojewski Posted: Tuesday February 24, 2026 9:53 AM Subject: RE: UK Source for heated suction table? Message: Hello Celeste, I can recommend a manufacturer in Poland that produces such suction tables if you can't find anyone in the UK. Best regards, Tomasz Lojewski [email protected] ------------------------------ Tomasz Lojewski AGH University Of Science and Technology Krakow Poland ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 02-23-2026 05:37 From: Celeste Sturgeon Subject: UK Source for heated suction table? Hello, We are looking to invest in a heated low-pressure suction table for lining paintings, but since the sad death of Paul Willard and the subsequent closure of Willard Instruments, we're struggling to find any other UK suppliers for suction tables. Does anyone have any suggestions for UK suppliers, or failing that, does anyone in the UK have experience of ordering a suction table from abroad (I've been looking at Deffner & Johann and GMW in Germany as possibilities). I'm just not sure about the costs and logistics of ordering such a large item from outside the country! Thank you in advance for any suggestions you might have! ------------------------------ Celeste Sturgeon Senior Technician Lincoln Conservation Lincoln United Kingdom ------------------------------ 3.From: Ann Frisina Posted: Tuesday February 24, 2026 3:26 PM Subject: RE: Mounting large buffalo hide on near vertical mount Message: I love the idea of pockets! Actually, I was thinking about using a design with Mylar or fabric inserted through the hole. This is a tricky issue due to the pliability of the brain-tanned skin and the Near Verticality of the mount. So that issue led me to the idea of a plex or vivak clip/button that would be the width of the Slit/hole and secured to the mount with a mechanical fastener like a screw underneath. However, this button system only supports the perimeter leaving the center to bag and migrate downward. This near vertical mount prevents a strong friction bond between the buffalo hide, hair side down, and instead creates a weak attachment to the mount in the center. In my opinion I don't think a friction mount will work at all in this instance because of the near verticality of the mount. ------------------------------ Ann Frisina Textile Conservator [email protected] 612-384-0340 http://www.mnhs.org/Textile Conservator ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 02-21-2026 12:48 From: Yadin Larochette Subject: Mounting large buffalo hide on near vertical mount Hi Ann,I'm not sure this would work, but have you considered sewing a lining to the skin through the existing (tanning process) holes, and securing your mounting system to that? One option might be pockets for magnets along the top (band of 1 ft or so) in areas where the skin "dips" when laying horizontally, that would be closest to the wall when vertical. I remember seeing a variation of this system published somewhere... I can see if I can find it if it's of interest?Best,Yadin Original Message: Sent: 2/20/2026 12:58:00 PM From: Ann Frisina Subject: Mounting large buffalo hide on near vertical mount I have been tasked with mounting a large, newly tanned buffalo hide on a near-vertical, flat mount approximately 8x8. The exhibition is expected to last between 6 months to a year. Mounting this hide will likely require a mechanical fastener to secure it in place. Sewing Velcro isn't appropriate as it will create damage via sewing holes through the hide. Magnets utilized from the top or bottom are not suitable, as fur on the verso will be crushed below. Finally, magnets may have difficulty creating a strong connection between the hide and the mount as the fur prevents the hide from lying flat. I am wondering if anyone has utilized the existing holes, created during tanning, to secure a large hide to a flat mount. It's my hope that plex rods with magnets or another form of mechanical attachment can be inserted through the existing holes to the mount below, preventing the hide from slipping down the mount. Any ideas on possible solutions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all for your time on this matter. Best Ann ------------------------------ Ann Frisina Textile Conservator [email protected] <[email protected]> 612-384-0340 http://www.mnhs.org/Textile <http://www.mnhs.org/Textile> Conservator ------------------------------ 4.From: Lindsey Williams Posted: Tuesday February 24, 2026 3:26 PM Subject: NEW Green Tea episode live: Respectful Stewardship with Pejuta Haka Win Red Eagle Message: The Newest Episode of Green Tea is Available now! Find it now on your favorite podcast app or on our podcast website. Respectful Stewardship with Pejuta Haka Win Red Eagle <https://rss.com/podcasts/green-tea/2570821/> At AIC’s 2025 Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Pejuta Haka Win Red Eagle joined the Sustainability Committee on a luncheon panel about mindful collecting in the time of climate change. She returns now to speak with Roxy about her perspectives on the preservation of Native American cultural heritage and the value community partnerships can have on collections care. She highlights how native-led provenance models can positively impact collections care and better inform stewarding institutions in identifying and exhibiting the cultural heritage accurately. It is better to ask the community members than to exhibit materials with minimal understanding because misinterpretation can lead to misinformation. Humility in recognizing that we don’t know everything about the material and reaching out for help leads to more accurate information. The communities are gifting their knowledge and it can lead the field towards a more holistic approach to collections care. Roxy and Pejuta talk about how the paradigms of ownership and stewardship differ in practice and what museums can do to shift towards a stewardship model that openly includes communities of origin. For many communities there is a deeply emotional aspect to their relationships and being trauma-informed and compassionate are ways in which conservators can engage with respect for the material heritage from communities outside their own. ------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Lindsey Williams Conservation Technician ------------------------------ 5.From: Beverly Perkins Posted: Tuesday February 24, 2026 4:09 PM Subject: RE: Mounting large buffalo hide on near vertical mount Message: Hello again. I definitely would not use the original holes, or sew onto the hide. If there are attachments on the back, they would each be a point of pressure and draw. This would cause the hide to distort after a short time. Beverly N. Perkins Chief Conservator c: 307.250.4919 o: 307.578.4029 e: [email protected] <[email protected]> Connecting people to the stories of the American West centerofthewest.org <http://centerofthewest.org/> <https://www.facebook.com/centerofthewest> <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuAFfHYYbWXPYtZrsut8Hgw> <https://www.instagram.com/centerofthewest/> ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 2/24/2026 10:08:00 AM From: Ann Frisina Subject: RE: Mounting large buffalo hide on near vertical mount I love the idea of pockets! Actually, I was thinking about using a design with Mylar or fabric inserted through the hole. This is a tricky issue due to the pliability of the brain-tanned skin and the Near Verticality of the mount. So that issue led me to the idea of a plex or vivak clip/button that would be the width of the Slit/hole and secured to the mount with a mechanical fastener like a screw underneath. However, this button system only supports the perimeter leaving the center to bag and migrate downward. This near vertical mount prevents a strong friction bond between the buffalo hide, hair side down, and instead creates a weak attachment to the mount in the center. In my opinion I don't think a friction mount will work at all in this instance because of the near verticality of the mount. ------------------------------ Ann Frisina Textile Conservator [email protected] 612-384-0340 http://www.mnhs.org/Textile Conservator ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 02-21-2026 12:48 From: Yadin Larochette Subject: Mounting large buffalo hide on near vertical mount Hi Ann,I'm not sure this would work, but have you considered sewing a lining to the skin through the existing (tanning process) holes, and securing your mounting system to that? One option might be pockets for magnets along the top (band of 1 ft or so) in areas where the skin "dips" when laying horizontally, that would be closest to the wall when vertical. I remember seeing a variation of this system published somewhere... I can see if I can find it if it's of interest?Best,Yadin Original Message: Sent: 2/20/2026 12:58:00 PM From: Ann Frisina Subject: Mounting large buffalo hide on near vertical mount I have been tasked with mounting a large, newly tanned buffalo hide on a near-vertical, flat mount approximately 8x8. The exhibition is expected to last between 6 months to a year. Mounting this hide will likely require a mechanical fastener to secure it in place. Sewing Velcro isn't appropriate as it will create damage via sewing holes through the hide. Magnets utilized from the top or bottom are not suitable, as fur on the verso will be crushed below. Finally, magnets may have difficulty creating a strong connection between the hide and the mount as the fur prevents the hide from lying flat. I am wondering if anyone has utilized the existing holes, created during tanning, to secure a large hide to a flat mount. It's my hope that plex rods with magnets or another form of mechanical attachment can be inserted through the existing holes to the mount below, preventing the hide from slipping down the mount. Any ideas on possible solutions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all for your time on this matter. Best Ann ------------------------------ Ann Frisina Textile Conservator [email protected] <[email protected]> 612-384-0340 http://www.mnhs.org/Textile <http://www.mnhs.org/Textile> Conservator ------------------------------ 6.From: Niccolo Caldararo Posted: Tuesday February 24, 2026 4:10 PM Subject: RE: Mounting large buffalo hide on near vertical mount Message: Yes, I can see the problem here. We had investigated pressure hanging systems in 1991, but our experiments demonstrated that they tended to create impressions and to lose local "bite" allowing the skin to creep away from anchors. This is why we went to the Japanese tissue method which worked as planned. Each tissue "anchor" held and the taught nature of the place fixation did not allow creep and yet did not produce any physical deformation of the skin. Niccolo ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 2/24/2026 10:08:00 AM From: Ann Frisina Subject: RE: Mounting large buffalo hide on near vertical mount I love the idea of pockets! Actually, I was thinking about using a design with Mylar or fabric inserted through the hole. This is a tricky issue due to the pliability of the brain-tanned skin and the Near Verticality of the mount. So that issue led me to the idea of a plex or vivak clip/button that would be the width of the Slit/hole and secured to the mount with a mechanical fastener like a screw underneath. However, this button system only supports the perimeter leaving the center to bag and migrate downward. This near vertical mount prevents a strong friction bond between the buffalo hide, hair side down, and instead creates a weak attachment to the mount in the center. In my opinion I don't think a friction mount will work at all in this instance because of the near verticality of the mount. ------------------------------ Ann Frisina Textile Conservator [email protected] 612-384-0340 http://www.mnhs.org/Textile Conservator ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 02-21-2026 12:48 From: Yadin Larochette Subject: Mounting large buffalo hide on near vertical mount Hi Ann,I'm not sure this would work, but have you considered sewing a lining to the skin through the existing (tanning process) holes, and securing your mounting system to that? One option might be pockets for magnets along the top (band of 1 ft or so) in areas where the skin "dips" when laying horizontally, that would be closest to the wall when vertical. I remember seeing a variation of this system published somewhere... I can see if I can find it if it's of interest?Best,Yadin Original Message: Sent: 2/20/2026 12:58:00 PM From: Ann Frisina Subject: Mounting large buffalo hide on near vertical mount I have been tasked with mounting a large, newly tanned buffalo hide on a near-vertical, flat mount approximately 8x8. The exhibition is expected to last between 6 months to a year. Mounting this hide will likely require a mechanical fastener to secure it in place. Sewing Velcro isn't appropriate as it will create damage via sewing holes through the hide. Magnets utilized from the top or bottom are not suitable, as fur on the verso will be crushed below. Finally, magnets may have difficulty creating a strong connection between the hide and the mount as the fur prevents the hide from lying flat. I am wondering if anyone has utilized the existing holes, created during tanning, to secure a large hide to a flat mount. It's my hope that plex rods with magnets or another form of mechanical attachment can be inserted through the existing holes to the mount below, preventing the hide from slipping down the mount. Any ideas on possible solutions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all for your time on this matter. Best Ann ------------------------------ Ann Frisina Textile Conservator [email protected] <[email protected]> 612-384-0340 http://www.mnhs.org/Textile <http://www.mnhs.org/Textile> Conservator ------------------------------ You are subscribed to "Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList)" as [email protected]. To change your subscriptions, go to http://community.culturalheritage.org/preferences?section=Subscriptions. To unsubscribe from this community discussion, go to https://community.culturalheritage.org/HigherLogic/eGroups/Unsubscribe.aspx?UserKey=d16eaa87-0f69-494b-9f2f-303dbc1222e1&sKey=fab9aa4f27a04c5d876e&GroupKey=757a8f16-505f-4323-8e74-e376757aa9f7.
