Guidelines for best practice
Icon Ethical Guidance 2020 sets out the thirteen principles of ethical conservation practice. Number thirteen states that the conservation 'action, or decision to take no action, is documented to the appropriate level of detail and includes recommendations for the future maintenance and preservation of the item.'
Elaborating on this further, the commentary states:
The options for actions and the rationale for the selection of a particular action or decision to take no action, should be recorded to inform future custodians. For example, it is necessary to know what materials have been used so that adverse reactions to future treatment and use can be prevented. This knowledge assists with future planning, expected outcomes and longevity of interventive treatment may be included. Documentation should include recommendations for the future care, maintenance and preservation of the item. These should be considered at the treatment proposal stage and finalised at the end of the project.
The appropriate level of detail for all these records is in accordance with prevailing known and accepted standards where they exist. The level of detail needed is that which enables others to understand why the decision was taken, what was done as a result and what the support needs are going forward.
Documentation should be archived in such a way that it is accessible to those needing it for the reasonably foreseeable future.
Documentation can have a value in itself. For example, it may become the only record of the existence of an item where original items are lost or destroyed.
The Icon Glossary (supplement to the Ethical Guidance) defines 'Documentation' as:
'the process of creating documents to record the state of an object and any conservation actions, which have been applied to it. Documentation may consist of written descriptions, diagrams, drawings, photographs, scans, and results of analytical research.
The documentation of conservation actions should include guidance about the housing, handling, use, and long-term care of the object. For example, X-radiographs, drawings, photographs, written reports, computer files, photogrammetry, laser-scanning, etc.'
Created: 15 Feb 2022 02:02:00 PM
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