Acid-free Mounting--What is Effective Mounting & Ineffective Mounting

How much do you know about the picture mounting?

MOUNTING 0F CONTEMPORARY ARTWORKS

ONE | ABOUT THE MOUNTING

-Three-part for Painting, Seven-part for Mounting

Anyone who has bought art knows the truth of three-part for painting, seven-part for mounting. Picture mounts are beneficial for a variety of reasons. They can not only provide decoration for the artwork but better improve its visual appeal. More importantly, it is also an important way to protect the artwork, which helps avoid as much as possible damage and influence from the external environment that can cause to the artworks.

Everyone knows the importance of mounting, but can you distinguish between effective mounting and ineffective mounting?

TWO | Ineffective Mounting v.s. Effective Mounting

Just imagine, even if you framed and protected your favorite piece of art, it starts browning and discolored after a few years. One hand is due to the aging of the material itself, on the other hand, the pollution from the outside, including the way of picture mounting.

The form and material used in mounting will affect the work itself from the inside. If the appropriate mounting form and material are not selected, it will cause greater damage to the arts. And if using acid mounting materials to protect the work, acid erosion will accelerate the aging process of the artwork, which is ineffective mounting. Thus, "effective mounting" shows its important role.

01.The Principle of Mounting Reversible

Effective mounting must follow the principle of reversible protective mounting, which means without permission from the customer, the decorator is never allowed to cut, paste or fold the works. After the work is mounted, it can return to the original state.

02. Acid-free Mounting

If the work you want to mount is of high value and significance, you should choose the best mounting form according to the suggestions given by the decorator. Acid-free mounting is one of the most effective ways to reduce the damage to the works.

Now we're going to talk about acid-free mounting.

THREE | What is Acid-free Mounting?

The Fine Art Trade Guild (FATG) was founded in London, the UK in 1910. It is the authoritative certification body of the art printing, mounting, and framing industry in the contemporary world, and the maker standards of global mounting.

GRADE MOUNTING OF ARTWORKS

The FATG sets industry standards for art and mounting industry practitioners, classifying mounting forms into the following five levels:

Different levels of framing technology also meet individual needs.

01. MUSEUM LEVEL

A top-level mounting
Improving the highest aesthetic value of the artworks
Keeping arts for up to 35 years
The mounting process is entirely reversible
Suitable for the arts of high-value and historical value

02. PROTECTION LEVEL

Second only to museum-level mounting
Enhancing the visual appeal of the artworks
Protecting works for up to 20 years
Acid-free protective materials
The mounting process is reversible
Suitable for emotional value things or original works, or limited edition works

03. COMMEND LEVEL

Medium-level mounting form
Against air pollution for about 5 years
Not necessarily reversible
Suitable for visual effects and sentimental value of replaceable things

04. ECONOMIC LEVEL

The inferior mounting form
The economical price with the good visual effect
Short preservation time
Suitable for normal, low-value alternative works without or with emotional attachment

05. The LOWEST LEVEL

Low cost and efficient
Low demand for overall appearance and quality
Mainly for temporary display and have no commercial value

Next, let’s move on to acid-free mounting.

In some cases, such as mature museums, cultural relics protection, and art market, their artwork may be preserved using the acid-free level mounting for maintenance and framing. Acid-free mounting is also called museum-level or protection level mounting. So, what is acid-free mounting? Acid-free mounting means that the mounting process is effectively isolated with acid-free materials to prevent the penetration of active acid contents. Its material standard is pH 7.0-7.5. The material is not easily changed from the environment in special handling. Advantages: preservation resistance, environmental influence (such as UV light, moisture, humidity, air pollution, dust, and physical contact), can extend the life of the work, and a long time to maintain the original state, etc.

Except the works are on acid-free paper, the material used in picture mounting must also be acid-free and lignin-free.

01 MOUNTING BOARDS

The first thing to mention is acid-free mounting boards. An acid-free board has many uses. It contains acidic chemicals that are covered up and meant to be exposed later. The mounting boards for mounting, non-lignin, avoid the acid coming into contact with the artwork and buffer with calcium carbonate (CaCO3), pH above 7, such as MUNKEN and COLOURMOUNT cards. It helps keep color over time and is better for long-term storage than ordinary boards.

02 TAPE

TAPE also needs to be acid-free. The structure of acid-free tape is generally composed of lignin-free acid-free paper + acid-free active adhesive. In addition to itself acid-free, it can isolate acid and avoid harm to artworks.

03 FRAME

The ordinary wooden frame itself is easily affected by humidity, temperature, acidity, air pollution, etc., acid from the wooden frame will infiltrate the board, so that it turns brown, and eventually ruins the works. Therefore, choosing the frame also needs to go through deacidification treatment, if using an acidic wood frame, it is necessary to use acidic tape for isolation.

FOUR | Technological Process

In the past eight years, SOA ARTS has become a representative of the typical art wholesaler with high quality and good taste in the client's mind.

SOA ARTS mounting process adopts a protective mounting level and follows the principle of reversible mounting for each work.

In the process of mounting for each is for the permanent spread of the work, must be strictly treated with meticulous attitude.

There can be no mistake at every step, and the decorator will be careful inspection of the work. The artwork is pasted in the protective level paper before the acrylic and backboard are pressed front and back to the arts to reduce oxidation and do not allow any dust. It is not only a responsibility to the customer but also a respect for the artwork.