What is a Technological Conservator?

A (large) Technological Objects Conservator

These are some thoughts for discussion.

What is Technological Objects Conservator;

• a conservator, with a mechanical competence, and the ability to apply materials science to complex projects.
• a person with high grade hand skills and LTO treatment experience.
• a materials scientist
• a project coordinator
• a team leader
• a philosopher
• a team builder mentor and confidant
• a technological history expert
• has a high degree of understanding of engineering culture

What a Technology Conservator needs to be;

• a chemist, materials expert, metals conservator with a wide base in materials deterioration
• *a pragmatist*
• ~~a treatment development specialist~~
• a person who understands and appreciate engineering culture
• a person who understands the value and worth of specialist trade skills and training in a heritage context.
• *a Technological History curator*
• A person who is able to bring together the intent of the creators intent in a meaningful and considered way. 

What a Technological Objects Conservator is not;

• restorer
• a tradesman
• an objects conservator
• a conservation manager
• a history curator

What do technology conservators do differently ;

• understands the concept and responsibility to conserve form and function in an object
• describe objects by function
• understand that it is nessesary to measure in the units in which the object was made - not mm.
  • dutch inches for a 16 century dutch object
  • thou if it was made in the UK
  • UNF if it was made in the USA
  • centimetres if it was made in France
  • Inches/feet if it was Japanese naval..
  • and so on
• talk about wear rates and risk
• can make paint cross sections in their sleep
• understand coating systems history
• understand the significance of the original surface
• understand the curatorial need to restore with incomplete information
• are information getters, object archeologists for the curators.

Sunday, 19. October 2014 11:14AM