CONSERVATION OF PHOTODEGRADED ASIAN LACQUER SURFACES: FOUR CASE STUDIES

Exposure to light combined with fluctuations in relative humidity causes the formation of microcracks in the surface of Asian lacquer, which is associated with loss of gloss. Increasing severity of microcracks results in incremental loss of surface and decoration. This paper presents four case studies of the conservation of photodegraded Asian lacquer surfaces that required balancing ethical considerations, current knowledge of the objects, their condition, intended use, and long-term preservation. These treatments encompassed the use of Paraloid B72 and the lacquer-based treatments urushi-gatame and suri urushi. In each case a unique set of challenges was resolved using a treatment plan customized for each object.