AIC's 45th Annual Meeting

The conservation of archaeological vessel glass is notable for the challenges inherent in loss compensation and has seen conservators creatively manipulating many materials to varying degrees of success. Conventional gap-filling techniques using epoxy resins are now widely regarded as inappropriate. One of the latest emerging techniques is the use of customisable Paraloid B-72 films, established by Koob et al. at the Corning Museum of Glass. This talk presents two alternative approaches to loss compensation in archaeological glass using acrylic resin gap fills. The authors reflect on their independent experiences in adapting this technique and consider each against the backdrop of Koob's own recommendations. The approaches described here illustrate the practicalities, challenges and conclusions drawn from the application - through trial and error - of this technique, including:

• Casting of films of varying thickness, colour, transparency & flexibility
• Experimentation & use of different resin compositions
• Shaping of fills
• Manipulation of fills and their adhesion to the glass body

The presentation highlights the similarities and differences in decision making by conservators working separately at UCL and the Royal Albert Memorial Musuem (Exeter, UK), while replicating a given treatment methodology. It also advocates the use of collaboration and knowledge-sharing in tackling a conservation issue. Ultimately, through sharing these experiences, both case studies serve as a guide for conservators wishing to implement similar treatments in the future. It is hoped that in doing so, the professional conservator's repertoire for the treatment of archaeological glass will be expanded upon, allowing for the significance of fragmentary archaeological glass to be better preserved.