Academic thesis
| Jasmine Brenner: | Microclimate Vitrines: Development, Function and Commonly Discussed Problems | Back |
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 Schematic of a microclimate vitrine construction at the KMSKA
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| Abstract: | This Bachelor-Thesis discusses microclimate vitrines, which are used to preserve humidity-sensitive objects. The topic was chosen during my internship at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, where microclimate vitrines are routinely constructed. Questions will be answered regarding their relevance in the conservation of objects, their development over the past century, their function and lastly, how effective they prove to be. The information was gathered mainly through literary research and my own experiences. Early contributions of this field are referenced, as they still have relevance to this day. Through extensive research carried out by experts in this field, it was possible to design and construct microclimate systems. They prove to be one of the safest ways to preserve fragile objects, even with some issues involved. These issues will be addressed in this bachelor’s thesis. The topic around the microclimate showcase proves to be complex due to physical-chemical calculations, some of which are applied in this area. The contents of this Bachelor-Thesis, however, are not going to focus on complicated calculations, but rather give a general understanding of this field and demonstrate the now simple way of constructing microclimate vitrines for artwork preservation. |
 Illustration of a fully sealed microclimate vitrine
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| Table of contents: | Abstract ..................................... 1 Introduction.......................................... 2 1. The Relevance of Showcases..............................................4 1.1. The Behavior of Hygroscopic Materials with a Changing Environment ............................. 4 1.2. Relative Humidity and Temperature.......................................... 9 2. The Development of Microclimate-Vitrines..............................................10 2.1. Historical Reasons for the Development of Preventive Conservation.............................. 10 2.2. Different Types of Showcases.............................................12 2.3. The Development of Showcase Design...............15 3. The Function of Showcases and Microclimate Vitrines..............................................21 3.1. Behavior of Relative Humidity within Showcases...21 3.2. The Use of Buffering Material Inside Showcases.. 25 3.3. Function of Microclimate Vitrines..............................................27 3.4. Microclimate Vitrine Design at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp ....................... ............28 4. Occurring Problems with Microclimate Vitrines......32 Evaluation........................................... 34 Conclusion........................................... 36 Bibliographie........................................ 38 Figures.............................................. 44 Tables............................................... 44 Glossary............................................. 46 |
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