Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. RE: Plywood marquetry delamination 2. Flies in Historic Houses in the UK 3. Job Posting: Head of Conservation and Preservation at Folger Shakespeare Library 4. RE: Plywood marquetry delamination 5. Dove Grey paper 6. Conserv hosting AMA on Fire Risk and Emergency Planning ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: Robin Hodgson Posted: Tuesday March 10, 2026 7:06 AM Subject: RE: Plywood marquetry delamination Message: Hi, the plywood will almost certainly be bonded together with urea formaldehyde glue, by now, that would be clear white and glassy in texture. Keep humidity away from it, it will only exabyte the problem. The marquetry may well be adhered with another adhesive. determine what adhesives where used, and let's reconvene. Robin ------------------------------ Robin Hodgson Owner RH Conservation Engineering Flinders Australia ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 03-09-2026 18:54 From: Anna Graff Subject: Plywood marquetry delamination Hello, We have two works of art that are marquetry inset into plywood, made in Brazil, by Max Rezler, I believe around the 1960s. The plywood layers have started to delaminate. In order to flatten and reattach the layers, I am considering a humidity chamber to make the wood more pliable. My concern is that I don't know what, if any, adhesives were used and I'm concerned that a humidity chamber might cause the small wood pieces to become loose. Right now, the top still feels fairly smooth, with the pieces still attached, despite the bowing, but I can feel some of the edges starting to come up, but just barely. I am also in a very dry climate and the artwork has been here for at least 20-30 years. Does anyone have experience with this type of material and situation that could advise me? Thank you. ------------------------------ Anna Graff Conservator LDS Church History Museum Salt Lake Cty United States ------------------------------ 2.From: Davina Thompson Posted: Tuesday March 10, 2026 7:07 AM Subject: Flies in Historic Houses in the UK Message: Raby Castle, in partnership with H360 at Durham University, are exploring the contributing factors, prevention and response to flies in historic houses. We are hoping to gather information from across the UK to understand experiences and inform future research which looks towards prevention and mitigation strategies. The survey should take at most 10 minutes to complete and will be used to inform future discussions. The survey will close on 1st April 2026. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KYSY8QD <https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KYSY8QD> ------------------------------ Davina Thompson Conservation and Collections Care Officer Raby Castle Darlington United Kingdom ------------------------------ 3.From: Renate Mesmer Posted: Tuesday March 10, 2026 4:06 PM Subject: Job Posting: Head of Conservation and Preservation at Folger Shakespeare Library Message: Dear Colleagues, The Folger has just begun the search for the Eric Weinmann Head of Conservation and Preservation. https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/FSL_Employment_Opportunities <https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/FSL_Employment_Opportunities> In 2024, the Folger reached an important milestone when it reopened to visitors following a multi-year renovation that made the library more accessible, expanded stack capacity and gallery spaces, updated the HVAC system to better protect the collections, and transformed the historic Great Hall into a welcoming meeting and café space. The search is now underway for the next Eric Weinmann Head of Conservation and Preservation to care for the Folger's remarkable collections, support the exhibition program, and work with a great team of conservators and colleagues. The department has a long tradition of hosting interns from around the world, including mid-career conservators and third-year students from conservation programs, and will also welcome preventive conservation interns in the future. After 22 years at the Folger Shakespeare Library, I will be retiring and feel privileged to have been part of many great projects and this milestone. ------------------------------ Renate Mesmer Head of Conservation and Preservation Folger Shakespeare Library Washington, DC United States ------------------------------ 4.From: Carola Schueller Posted: Tuesday March 10, 2026 4:06 PM Subject: RE: Plywood marquetry delamination Message: Hi Anna, you may not need a humidity chamber. Thin plywood layers like yours are quite malleable, and I don't see much warping and deformation. I might try to slowly clamp the plywood without any glue and see how it feels. Do the layers easily re-form? Does the wood make creaking or popping noises? What does the glue look like under UV light? Really roughly speaking natural glues like hide/ bone/ fish glues will fluoresce yellow whereas PVAs will be bright blueish white. An easy test is also to scrape some old glue off and put a dollop of water on there. If is turns squishy and white it may be a PVA. If it becomes translucent and sticky between two fingers, it may be a natural glue. As for relaying your plies: If a natural glue was used you can use a natural glue again. Cold setting hide or fish glue will be fine since you are in a dry climate. You can either apply the glue with a thin spatula or slightly diluted through a syringe. The new glue will reactivate the old glue and help with the re-laying of your plies. If a synthetic glue was used, you will probably need to use a synthetic glue again. In which case I would probably carefully inject some warm water or acetone to make the old glue malleable before putting new glue in between the layers. Good luck! Carola Carola Schueller she/ her Objects Conservator The Preservation Society of Newport County ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 3/9/2026 6:54:00 PM From: Anna Graff Subject: Plywood marquetry delamination Hello, We have two works of art that are marquetry inset into plywood, made in Brazil, by Max Rezler, I believe around the 1960s. The plywood layers have started to delaminate. In order to flatten and reattach the layers, I am considering a humidity chamber to make the wood more pliable. My concern is that I don't know what, if any, adhesives were used and I'm concerned that a humidity chamber might cause the small wood pieces to become loose. Right now, the top still feels fairly smooth, with the pieces still attached, despite the bowing, but I can feel some of the edges starting to come up, but just barely. I am also in a very dry climate and the artwork has been here for at least 20-30 years. Does anyone have experience with this type of material and situation that could advise me? Thank you. ------------------------------ Anna Graff Conservator LDS Church History Museum Salt Lake Cty United States ------------------------------ 5.From: Eliza Gilligan Posted: Tuesday March 10, 2026 5:39 PM Subject: Dove Grey paper Message: Greetings colleagues, We have come down to the last few sheets of Dove Grey 80 pound paper and have not been able to find a vendor to restock. So far, we've identified Heritage Archival pHotokraft- Old Grey Ivory as a likely replacement since it's archival properties make it suitable for lining the inside of cloth clam shell boxes or pastedowns/ endpapers in some conservation bindings. We don't 100% love the color however, and the cost of shipping from the UK might be problematic. We looked at some Mohawk papers but none have passed the PAT that we know of. If there are others in the community who are in the same boat and have found an alternative to Dove Grey 80 pound, we would appreciate hearing from you. Cheers, eliza ------------------------------ Eliza Gilligan Senior Book Conservator Center for Conservation of Art & Historic Artifacts Philadelphia, PA ------------------------------ 6.From: M. Susan Barger Posted: Tuesday March 10, 2026 5:41 PM Subject: Conserv hosting AMA on Fire Risk and Emergency Planning Message: Join us for the AMA, March 12, about Fire Risks and Disaster planning. Send your questions now and the Answers will be posted on the 12th. <https://community.conserv.io/c/ama-s/ask-me-anything-fire-risks-and-emergency-preparedness-planning>Ask Me Anything: Fire Risks and Emergency Preparedness Planning | Conserv Community <https://community.conserv.io/c/ama-s/ask-me-anything-fire-risks-and-emergency-preparedness-planning> Conserv Community remove preview <https://community.conserv.io/c/ama-s/ask-me-anything-fire-risks-and-emergency-preparedness-planning> Ask Me Anything: Fire Risks and Emergency Preparedness Planning | Conserv Community Join us on March 12th for a live Ask Me Anything (AMA) session featuring Hannah Monachino, a recognized specialist in fire risk assessment, fire safety training, emergency planning, and compliance with fire alarm and suppression systems. Hannah has a ... View this on Conserv Community > <https://community.conserv.io/c/ama-s/ask-me-anything-fire-risks-and-emergency-preparedness-planning> <https://community.conserv.io/c/ama-s/ask-me-anything-fire-risks-and-emergency-preparedness-planning> ------------------------------ M. Susan Barger, PhD Conserv Community Board Santa Fe NM ------------------------------ 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.
