Using Research on Preservation and Conservation in a Historic House

Abstract

Historic houses are challenging environments for conservation and preservation of the often vulnerable collection objects contained within. Multidisciplinary scientific and expert research in the Museum Plantin-Moretus, UNESCO World Heritage since 2005, revealed its particular issues regarding airborne pollutants, climate factors (temperature and relative humidity), light, and presentation protocols that were all potentially damaging to the collection. Particular research on the displayed objects illustrated the negative effects of these issues. The combined research effort now serves as a “status of conservation” upon which future policy can be based. As a rational resource, it addresses overseeing governments’ wishes by making it possible to propose measures that are both effective and efficient. It also serves as a convincing justification for procedural and presentational change by museum personnel and management. Overall, it creates valuable goodwill among the various stakeholders of the museum, thereby going beyond the pure practical use.