Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. JOB POSTING. Conservator. Nottinghamshire Archives, UK 2. RE: Yellow-Green Staining on Polyethylene Bags 3. RE: Gilder's bole 4. Job Alert - Assistant Conservator (Paper and Archives), Hampshire Archives, Winchester, UK 5. Materials Science Pioneers in Art and Archaeology Webinar Series 6. VOC scrubbers 7. RE: 4 August 2026 - Icon Care of Collections Reading Group 8. RE: Refinishing slate countertops and lab tables ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: Jessica Phipps-Wardle Posted: Tuesday July 21, 2026 7:00 AM Subject: JOB POSTING. Conservator. Nottinghamshire Archives, UK Message: Job Title: Conservator Location: Nottinghamshire Archives, County House, Castle Meadow Road, Nottingham, NG2 1AG Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week) Grade: Hay Band A (£34,433 - £39,152 FTE) Closing Date: 9th August 2026 Interview Date: 21st August 2026 Nottinghamshire Archives is looking for a Conservator, please see job description in the following link, Inspire: Culture, Learning & Libraries Careers <https://isw.changeworknow.co.uk/inspire_culture/vms/e/careers/positions/doslM_B_5cV4VvzhQjk5qL> Please share with anyone you may think will be interested, many thanks. ------------------------------ Jess Phipps Wardle Conservation Officer Leicestershire County Council UK ------------------------------ 2.From: Dermot Cox-Kearns Posted: Tuesday July 21, 2026 7:09 AM Subject: RE: Yellow-Green Staining on Polyethylene Bags Message: Marybeth, Bags made of virgin polyethylene that meet all USDA and FDA requirements are possibly the best, however the FDA and USDA standards are for pharmaceutical/medical and food needs so you would also need to consider the conservation/preservation requirements for the heritage sector. My personal choice if they were available would be enclosures made from archival polyester (aka Mylar). I had considered trying to manufacture this type of enclosure and had invested in some equipment and materials to start experimenting in how they could be produced for conservation/prevention sometime ago; however, a very serious illness put a halt to my plans and unfortunately my energy and stamina today would not allow me to venture back into that project again. ------------------------------ Dermot Cox-Kearns Owner On The Edge Ashford - Wicklow Ireland ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 07-17-2026 12:53 From: Marybeth Tomka Subject: Yellow-Green Staining on Polyethylene Bags Dermot, Do you know what grade of plastic that would be or the relative cost? Thanks, Marybeth ------------------------------ Marybeth Tomka Argyle Archaeological Services Converse Texas USA ------------------------------ Original Message: Sent: 07-17-2026 05:27 From: Dermot Cox-Kearns Subject: Yellow-Green Staining on Polyethylene Bags When they are making the bags, some of the producers use something to prevent static and sticking of the plastic material as it comes off the roll into the bag forming machine, when the material is going through the machine that formats the bags, static and sticking can slow down the speed the machine can work at ... unfortunately I have no real idea what the materials are that they use to prevent static and sticking on the machines, possible it is similar to the coconut power that is used when they make disposal powder latex gloves, or some other similar material, similar materials are also used in the Litho printing industries. A possible solution to eliminate the staining is to use food or pharmaceutical grade plastic bags, which would have a much cleaner production than standard plastic bags. ------------------------------ Dermot Cox-Kearns Owner On The Edge Ashford - Wicklow Ireland ------------------------------ 3.From: Kristin Rattke Posted: Tuesday July 21, 2026 9:09 AM Subject: RE: Gilder's bole Message: Dear Caroline Have you checked out the German gold leaf manufacturer Eytzinger yet? They have a large range of bole clay, including a bole powder without glue called Poliment-powder: https://www.eytzinger.com/products/poliment/ <https://www.eytzinger.com/products/poliment/> My friend and master gilder, Michelle Sachs, is Eytzinger's key account manager, so if you have any questions about the products or technical questions about gilding please feel free to contact her at [email protected] <[email protected]>. Best wishes from Berlin, Kristin Rattke Paintings conservator ------------------------------ Kristin Rattke Paintings Conservator in Private Practice Stavanger Norway ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 07-16-2026 07:07 From: Caroline Oliver Subject: Gilder's bole Hi everyone, My jars are getting empty and I've just been searching the usual suppliers to buy some bole clay for gilding. It's getting harder to find stock available, especially since Selhamin has been discontinued, and the colour range is ever shrinking. I'm sure there are studios around the country (I'm UK based) that have bole they no longer use. How do people feel about re-homing/selling unused supplies? Just a thought - it doesn't go off and there are gilders who would make good use of it. Caroline Caroline Oliver [email protected] <[email protected]>07739 069165 www.coconservation.co.uk <http://www.coconservation.co.uk> 4.From: Frances Lunn Posted: Tuesday July 21, 2026 9:10 AM Subject: Job Alert - Assistant Conservator (Paper and Archives), Hampshire Archives, Winchester, UK Message: This is an exciting opportunity for a qualified paper and archives conservator to join the small conservation team at Hampshire Archives and develop their skills through the preservation and conservation of a range of archive materials. Hampshire Archives has recently secured external funding to conserve, digitise and re-package some of Winchester Cathedral's medieval parchment rolls many of which are in a very fragile condition. In this role, you will help with some of the day-to-day conservation tasks, allowing the Conservator to focus on conservation of the Cathedral rolls. However, you will also have training in parchment conservation and participate in the rolls project alongside your other duties. This 12-month contract provides an excellent chance for a recently qualified or early career conservator, or someone returning to conservation after a break, to gain hands-on experience of working in a busy record office and to develop their skills through the preservation and conservation of a range of archive materials. Job Reference: HCC624587 Salary Range: £27,780 - £30,564 pro-rata, per annum (actual salary £13,515 - £14,869 per annum) Work Location: Hampshire Record Office, Winchester Hours per week: 18 Contract Type: Temporary (12 months) Closing Date: 7 August 2026 Interview Date: 20 and 21 August 2026 For more details about the role and how to apply, please click here: Assistant Conservator (Paper and Archives) <https://careers.newjob.org.uk/HCC/job/Winchester-Assistant-Conservator-%28Paper-and-Archives%29-HAM/1416164333/> ------------------------------ Frances Lunn Paper Conservator Hampshire Archives Winchester United Kingdom ------------------------------ 5.From: Celia Chari Posted: Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:47 AM Subject: Materials Science Pioneers in Art and Archaeology Webinar Series Message: I am pleased to announce the next speaker of the Materials Science Pioneers in Art and Archaeology Webinar Series - hosted by the Art, Archaeology and Conservation Science Division of the American Ceramic Society. Please join us this Friday, July 24th at 12 pm ET (5 pm BST / 6 pm CEST) as we welcome Dr. Marco Nicola, who is a Research Fellow at the University of Turin. Dr. Nicola's talk is titled: >From Ancient Pigment to Future Technology: The Renaissance of Egyptian Blue >and Related 2D Silicates Registration is required to attend, but still free of charge for all participants. Following this webinar, the series will pause for the summer and return in late September 2026. We encourage you to join us for this final session before the break, where we will also share updates on the future of the series. We hope to see you there! Please register for this event: Art, Archaeology & Conservation Science Division - Materials Science Pioneers in Art and Archaeology Webinar Series <https://ceramics.org/course/art-archaeology-conservation-science-division-materials-science-pioneers-in-art-and-archaeology-webinar-series-from-ancient-pigment-to-future-technology-the-renaissance-of-egyptian-blue-and-relat/> Missed any previous webinars from the series? Find them on the American Ceramic Society's YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@ceramicsociety/videos <https://www.youtube.com/@ceramicsociety/videos> Abstract: Egyptian blue, the first synthetic pigment developed over 5000 years ago, has recently experienced an unexpected renaissance in materials science. This talk explores the journey of CaCuSi₄O₁₀ (cuprorivaite) and its related compounds-Chinese blue (BaCuSi₄O₁₀), Chinese purple (BaCuSi₂O₆), and wesselsite (SrCuSi₄O₁₀)-from antiquity to cutting-edge technologies. The discovery in 1996 of their intense near-infrared (NIR) photoluminescence, excitable even by visible light, opened unprecedented application possibilities. In 2013, the successful exfoliation of these materials into luminescent nanosheets expanded the family of 2D nanomaterials. Today, these ancient silicates are finding innovative applications in diverse fields: NIR fluorescent probes for bioimaging and biophotonics, photothermal therapy in regenerative medicine taking advantage of their antibacterial and angiogenic properties, advanced sensors, luminescent solar concentrators for energy harvesting, and photocatalytic nitrogen fixation. Their exceptional stability, biocompatibility, sustainability and very high quantum yield could allow them to replace modern synthetic fluorophores based on critical elements. This presentation highlights how understanding ancient manufacturing techniques is inspiring tomorrow's technologies, demonstrating the extraordinary potential of materials for sustainable innovation. Speaker Biography: Marco Nicola is a conservation scientist with over twenty years of experience in the fields of conservation science and materials technology. Born into a family of restorers, he graduated in chemistry and, in 2005, co-founded Adamantio srl – Science in Conservation together with Admir Masic (now a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – MIT). The company began as an academic spin-off of the University of Turin. Throughout his career, Nicola has applied advanced scientific methodologies to the conservation and restoration of significant cultural heritage sites and artworks. His notable projects include analytical work for the pilot restoration project of the Colonnade in St. Peter's Square, the Pompeii excavations, the Domus Aurea, the Grottoes of Catullus in Sirmione, the Museo Egizio in Turin, the Royal Villa of Monza, Raphael's frescoes at Villa Farnesina in Rome, and paintings by Caravaggio and other masters. In 2024, Marco Nicola became a research fellow at the University of Turin after earning his PhD in Chemical and Materials Sciences with a thesis on Egyptian blue, exploring both its ancient origins and its potential modern and future applications. His research is characterized by an interdisciplinary approach that combines chemistry, materials science, history, and conservation, aiming to develop innovative solutions for the protection of artistic heritage and for the technologies of tomorrow. ------------------------------ Celia S. Chari Conservation Scientist Mapping Color in History, Harvard University Based in Washington D.C. United States ------------------------------ 6.From: Jennifer Hadley Posted: Tuesday July 21, 2026 11:42 AM Subject: VOC scrubbers Message: We are laying new carpet and are in need of a VOC scrubber to help remove the smell and toxins in the adhesive from the air. Do you have any brands/models that you recommend? The carpet is in our galleries, which are around 2,000 sqft each. Thank You ------------------------------ Jennifer Hadley Textile/Objects Conservator LDS Church History Museum Salt Lake Cty United States ------------------------------ 7.From: Meagen Smith Posted: Tuesday July 21, 2026 11:42 AM Subject: RE: 4 August 2026 - Icon Care of Collections Reading Group Message: Two weeks until the next reading group. ------------------------------ Meagen Smith Library and archive conservator Lambeth Palace Library ------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 06-27-2026 04:33 From: Meagen Smith Subject: 4 August 2026 - Icon Care of Collections Reading Group The Care of Collections Reading Group explores and discusses open access articles covering preservation, collection care and collection wide conservation such as environmental monitoring, risk management, collection moves, etc. This activity provides an accountability partner for reading through the new or established research as a method of keeping our awareness high.** The group meets the first Tuesday, every two months for an hour of discussion 16.00 BST. All are welcome to attend –though if you haven't read the book/journal/article, you won't miss any spoilers: degradation, embrittlement, climate change! **4 August, 2026 via Zoom. **Session reading choices is: Taylor, J. (2017). Improving Reliability in Collection Condition Surveys by Utilizing Training and Decision Guides. Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, 56(2), 126–141. doi 10.1080/01971360.2017.1315512 Please sign up and vote for your choice with the Doodle poll: https://doodle.com/sign-up-sheet/participate/55969a73-ecb0-4c20-b0df-ce7ceace3cbc/select <https://doodle.com/sign-up-sheet/participate/55969a73-ecb0-4c20-b0df-ce7ceace3cbc/select> or email [email protected] <[email protected]> See you all in August. Meagen ------------------------------ Meagen Smith Library and archive conservator Lambeth Palace Library ------------------------------ 8.From: Craig Deller Posted: Tuesday July 21, 2026 12:59 PM Subject: RE: Refinishing slate countertops and lab tables Message: Hi Arianna, My first thought (after a good cleaning) would be to melt a hardened mix of microcrystalline wax onto the surface. By hardened, I mean the addition of Polywax 2000 to Multiwax 835, or some variation.A resin may delaminate and oil doesnt seem practical Hope that is useful,Craig Craig DellerCultural Heritage ConservatorFellow-AIC / IIC LinkedIn Profile <https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-deller-faic-fiic-80b8a6374/> ------------------------------------------- Original Message: Sent: 7/20/2026 3:08:00 PM From: Arianna Carini Johnston Subject: Refinishing slate countertops and lab tables After 25 years of heavy use, we are looking to refresh our slate counters and table tops in our lab spaces. The slate appears thirsty and inconsistent in color, but we are hesitant to apply a commercial sealant or oil without understanding how it will affect the surface or age. We also acknowledge polishing the surface would be the ideal first step, but we do not have the equipment, expertise, or time. They don't need to be perfect afterwards, just... better. Any recommendations or other experiences with large scale slate are appreciated. Thanks! ------------------------------ Arianna Carini Johnston Conservator Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab ------------------------------ You are subscribed to "Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList)" as [email protected]. To change your subscriptions, go to http://community.culturalheritage.org/preferences?section=Subscriptions. 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