katy-l-wood:saintartemis:anotherconservator: This display in Ashmolean Museum shows how touching art
katy-l-wood:saintartemis:anotherconservator: This display in Ashmolean Museum shows how touching artwork affects material. This is why museum staff get really upset when visitors touch stuff Please don’t touch the collection objects! This is such a great way to do it, though! Don’t just tell people not to touch, show them exactly why they can’t. [id: photo of a museum exhibit with explanation printed on the wall: “Objects are fragile“How does touching affect materials?“Natural oils on your fingers are absorbed by paper and wood and attract dirt. Acidic oils can also cause metals to corrode. Constant touching eventually wears away fragile surfaces.“Often, the safest place for museum objects is in a storeroom. Museums have to find the right balance between displaying objects and keeping them safe for future generations.“Please touch!”Below is a digital counter, and what looks like a bar of marble and one of copper inside a gold frame. Half the display is covered with plexiglass, while the other half is open to touch, and shows wear and damage on the frame and bars. The counter reads 5041380.]/end id. -- source link
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