Conservation

Conserving Awards Statuettes and Medals

Words by Alyssa Loera

Introduction

Many archivists are familiar with the occasional awkwardly shaped object jutting out sorely from a pristinely housed collection. These objects, especially when they come in the form of an award, are as integral to the collection as the next piece, but often require an altered method of physical stewardship. Approaching archival objects with a conservation lens can lead to an understanding of how that item persisted over time, it’s purpose, context, and history. Additionally, thinking about the composition of an item and the threat of physical deterioration will ultimately allow for an understanding of how to enhance its lifespan. Let us consider the award as object, and the necessary steps needed in order to properly care for the fancy statuettes given out each year. The intention of this article is not to replace the knowledge to be gained from an actual conservator (of which I am not) but instead is meant to inspire further research about this important aspect of caring for cultural heritage materials. Resources for learning more about object conservation and how to contact a conservator are located at the finish of the article.

Composition

Typically, award statuettes consist of a combination of metal, glass, and/or wood. Consider the Oscar statuette which is perhaps one of the most recognizable arts awards, at least in North America, and has been in existence since 1929. According to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences the statuette is composed of solid bronze and plated with 24 karat gold. Standing at 13.5 inches tall the 8.5 pound statue is formed in Burbank, California at the American Fine Arts Foundry. Grammy awards, on the other hand, consist of a zinc alloy that was coined by maker John Billings as “Grammium,” (Baker, 2015). Billings, who has been making Grammys for forty years, works out of Ridgway, Colorado and hand delivers each set of Grammys to Los Angeles every year by way of a road trip. Along with the zinc alloy, Grammys are plated with 24 karat gold and are pieced together from three separate molds over a span of 15 hours (Best, 2017). Each 5 pound object is then filed, polished, sanded, and etched with an authenticity serial number (Best, 2017).

The Screen Actors Guild Award, known as The Actor statuette is molded from solid bronze through lost wax casting (SAG, 2017). Lost wax casting consists of creating a mold from the original object and then using that mold to form all objects thereafter (Hemingway & Hemingway, 2003). Bronze is a typical alloy in the lost wax process as it has a lower melting point than some other metals, allowing it to remain liquid while being poured into a mold.

Metals such as gold, silver, and platinum are known as ‘noble metals’ because they resist corrosion and oxidation. Bronze, an alloy that is part tin and part copper, is less resistant to oxidation and corrosion and therefore more oils and acids have a damaging effect (Metals Wiki, n.d.). Gold is the most noble of the noble metals, and therefore the gold plated awards will deteriorate slower as time goes on (Metals Wiki, n.d.).

The basics of handling and storage

Most awards do not fit comfortably into a standard document box and require a specialized foam packing or box cut outs to keep from rolling around within a box. The box which houses the object should be slightly larger than the object itself and then cushioned accordingly using an inert foam source such as polyethylene microfoam. Additionally, acid free and lignin free cloth can be used to line boxes. The American Institute for Conservation (AIC) cautions against storing metals with any materials that can emit harmful and flammable off-gases. This includes cardboard, acidic newsprint, and wooden shelving. According to the AIC:

“Acidic gasses from wooden cabinets and cases can also cause metal corrosion. Vapors produced by plywood and other products that off-gas formaldehyde cause lead alloys and other metals to corrode, forming wispy white crystals often confused with mold growth.”

The larger environment for these items should be kept at low humidity, ideally under 55 percent. This is a standard temperature for most paper based archival objects as cold and dry atmospheres prevent mold growth. Glass and ceramic objects have similar corrosive potential as metals, but are often more fragile as far as handling is concerned. Glass should also be kept dust-free by keeping items covered or in boxes.. For awards objects that are mounted on wood bases it is important to remember that wood is an organic material that can be damaged by light, high humidity, and high heat. And of course, little critters that include wood in their diets thrive in warm and moist environments.

Dust and air pollutants are also a cause for concern as they can slowly corrode metals and glass over time. When dust lands on an object it can etch away at the surface layer and slowly destroy distinguishing authenticity marks, engravings, and the overall patina. When handling metal or glass materials, gloves are recommended to prevent oils and acids from hands affecting the outer layer of the piece. The AIC also recommends using non-abrasive cleaning techniques and not aggressively polishing items as most polish eats away at the metal.

Conclusion

The most significant factors to consider in regards to object conservation are corrosion and handling. Creating a unique and tailored box for an item can inspire long term care and keep the object away from harmful pollutants and dust. If an item is damaged and in need of repair it is best to defer to a conservator and someone local can be found through the AIC website.

Alyssa Loera is the Digitization Projects Coordinator at UCLA Library. 

More Resources

The Field Museum on preventive conservation
The American Institute for Conservation Objects Wiki
The American Institute for Conservation ‘Find a Conservator’ tool
Examples of archival housing of objects from the Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum
Gaylord Archival Guide to Collections Care

Sources

AIC Metals Wiki. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27, 2017, from http://www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/Metals

Archival Housing for Objects, Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://archaeologicalmuseum.jhu.edu/the-collection/object-stories/cataloguing-the-museum-collection/archival-housing-for-objects/

Baker, C. (2015, February 8). All about that brass: What exactly is a Grammy trophy made of? Retrieved February 27, 2017, from http://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/02/what_is_a_grammy_trophy_made_of.html

Best, T. (2017, February 7). How the Grammy Awards Are Made: 4 Craftsmen and “Grammium.” The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/07/arts/music/grammy-award-maker-john-billings.html

Furniture, American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Artworks. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27, 2017, from http://www.conservation-us.org/about-conservation/caring-for-your-treasures/furniture#.WLRuvlUrK9I

Glass and Ceramics, Furniture, American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Artworks. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27, 2017, from http://www.conservation-us.org/about-conservation/caring-for-your-treasures/glass-and-ceramics#.WLRqcFUrK9I

Guide to Collections Care, Gaylord Archival. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27, 2017, from http://www.gaylord.com/resources/guide-to-collections-care/section-1

Hemingway, A. S. H., Colette. (n.d.). The Technique of Bronze Statuary in Ancient Greece.The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved February 27, 2017, from http://www.metmuseum.org/TOAH/HD/grbr/hd_grbr.htm

Preventive Conservation. (2011, February 23). [Text]. Retrieved February 27, 2017, from https://www.fieldmuseum.org/science/research/area/conserving-collections/preventive-conservation

Storage of cultural heritage objects. (2016, December 5). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Storage_of_cultural_heritage_objects&oldid=753158765

The Actor® Statuettes Cast for 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27, 2017, from /media-pr/press-releases/actor%C2%AE-statuettes-cast-23rd-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards%C2%AE