Conservation vs. Preservation: What’s the Difference?

One of the most important roles museums have is to care and maintain objects in their collections.

One of the foremost responsibilities of museums is the care and maintenance of their collections. Museum collections can constitute many different kinds of objects, from artwork to archaeological objects. Institutions worldwide adhere to rigorous standards to ensure the longevity of the objects in their care, preserving them for both educational purposes and public enjoyment for generations to come. Despite their best efforts, factors such as environmental conditions, storage protocols, and handling practices significantly impact the lifespan of these items.

Conservation

To mitigate these effects, museums employ two key strategies: conservation and preservation. Conservation involves direct, hands-on intervention to stabilize and restore objects, often through invasive techniques. Conservators may undertake restoration treatments to return an object to its original state or appearance, which can include removing accumulated grime or replacing missing components.

A conservator removes grime from a basket.
An MOA Conservation intern cleans a basket

Preservation

Preservation is the non-invasive approach to minimizing deterioration and preventing future damage to objects. Some examples of preservation practices include:

  1. Housing objects in environmentally controlled storage facilities to mitigate the effects of humidity, light exposure, and other environmental factors.
  2. Regularly monitoring collection spaces for potential pest infestations.
  3. Practising proper artifact and object handling techniques to prevent damage.
  4. Storing objects in archival boxes with archival materials, such as polypropylene bags and acid-free tissue, to preserve their quality and longevity.
Many green boxes neatly line metal shelves for carefully preserving museum objects in a large repository
Boxes of archaeological objects preserved in the Sustainable Collections repository

At the Museum of Archaeology (MOA), we are primarily responsible for the long-term care of archaeological materials, which can be categorized into organic and inorganic materials. Organic materials, derived from living organisms, include items such as bone, wood, and plant fibres. Inorganic materials are sourced from non-living matter and can encompass stone, metal, ceramics, and glass. Due to their susceptibility to rapid deterioration, organic materials receive closer preservation attention. While conservation efforts are undertaken when necessary, our primary goal is the preservation of these invaluable objects.

References

MOA Blog Post. “A Journey in Conservation: Basketry.” Accessed April 11th, 2018. http://archaeologymuseum.ca/journey-conservation-basketry/

Texas Historical Commission. “Basic Guidelines for the Preservation of Historic Artifacts.”Accessed April 11th, 2018. http://www.thc.texas.gov/public/upload/publications/Basic%20Guidelines%20for%20the%20Preservation%20of%20historic%20artifacts%202013.pdf

Conserve O Gran: National Park Service. “Conservation of Museum Collections.” Accessed April 11th, 2018. https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/01-01.pdf