Conservation of Plaster Casts

This book, which includes a wide range of illustrations, focuses on the issues associated with the conservation, storage and display of plaster casts, reflecting on the past and reporting on the present. It examines the role that plaster itself plays in the process of making a sculpture, outlines the history of plaster casts and deals with the techniques of conservation including cleaning, consolidation, glueing, reintegration and preventive conservation and conservation surveys. The authors refer to the available published knowledge on the subject and add their new findings based on many years of experience and the evaluation of laboratory tests.

Preface
Acknowledgements

1 Introduction to the issue of plaster casts / Jakub Ďoubal
2 A brief history of plaster casts / Barbora Glombová and Jakub Ďoubal
3 The technology behind the making of casts / Martin Kulhánek and Jakub Ďoubal
      3.1 Mould making
      3.2 Casting
4 Surface finishes / Barbora Glombová and Jakub Ďoubal
5 Characteristics of gypsum binder and plaster casts / Renata Tišlová, Jakub Ďoubal and Petra Zítková
      5.1 The composition of gypsum binder
      5.2 Production of gypsum binder
      5.3 Hydration of hemihydrate plaster
      5.4 Influence of admixtures
      5.5 Microstructural properties of plaster casts
      5.6 Absorption capacity and hygroscopicity of plaster casts
      5.7 Sensitivity of plaster casts to high temperature
      5.8 Solubility
      5.9 Mechanical properties of plaster casts
6 Damage to plaster casts / Renata Tišlová, Jakub Ďoubal and Petra Zítková
      6.1 Mechanical damage
      6.2 Damage due to water, high humidity and heat
      6.3 Degradation of fittings and reinforcements
      6.4 Secondary repairs and interventions
      6.5 Soiling
      6.6 Damage to surface finishes and polychromy
7 Research into plaster casts / Jakub Ďoubal and Renata Tišlová
      7.1 Compiling information about the history of works of art and iconographic data
      7.2 Visual inspection of the work
      7.3 Extended chemical-technological research
8 Introduction to conservation issues / Jakub Ďoubal
9 Cleaning / Pavel Mrovec and Jakub Ďoubal
      9.1 Criteria for selecting the cleaning method
      9.2 Cleaning methods
      9.3 Plaster cast cleaning: case studies
      9.4 Conclusion
10 Consolidation / Petra Zítková, Renata Tišlová and Jakub Ďoubal
      10.1 Consolidation selection criteria
      10.2 Materials used for plaster consolidation
      10.3 Methods and conditions of application of consolidants
      10.4 Consolidation: case studies
      10.5 Conclusion
11 Gluing / Renata Tišlová, Jakub Ďoubal, Petra Zítková and Aneta Kokstejnová
      11.1 Criteria for choosing an adhesive
      11.2 Adhesives used for gluing
      11.3 Gluing plaster casts: case studies
      11.4 Conclusion
12 Integrating and retouching / Jakub Ďoubal, Barbora Glombová and Petra Zítková
      12.1 Filling
      12.2 Retouching
      12.3 Plaster cast integration and retouching: case studies
      12.4 Conclusion
13 Conditions for the storage and transport of plaster casts / Martin Kulhánek, Jakub Ďoubal and Petr Rejman
      13.1 Conditions for storage and presentation
      13.2 Manipulation of plaster casts and their transport
14 Conclusion

Appendix 1: Glossary of damage
Appendix 2: Traditional methods for various cast surface finishes

Bibliography