W.J. Phillips Woodblock Print

TITLE: Howe Sound
MEDIA: Water based printing inks
SUPPORT: Japanese kozo paper
DIMENSIONS:  13 5/8 x 11 5/8 inches

CONDITION:
Drymounted to acidic paperboard.

Detachment at the right side mended with a white emulsion adhesive.

Losses and areas of paper thinning at all edges.

Some adhesive/grey paper residue at the top edge, probably the result of a previous window mat removal.

Overall discoloration with a darker spot in the center of the sky area. There are scattered inclusions in the paper including metal particles. Matburn.

TREATMENT:
Removed from drymount using acetone

Inclusions removed as possible using the tip of a scalpel.

Humidified and cleaned using rigid agar gels including chelating and reducing agents. Margins further cleaned using reducing agents. Adhesive and paper residue removed with a scalpel.

Rinsed on rigid agar gels conditioned to pH 8, followed by brief float washing on deionized water bath conditioned to pH 8 with calcium hydroxide and transfered to suction table.

Paper losses in margins filled with Japanese paper inserts using methylcellulose adhesive. Humidified and pressed.