Caring for Miniatures.

[yoyita_yoyita]

The Vault National Archives of Canada has this indications:


Caring for miniature portraits

Miniatures are extremely sensitive to light and should be stored in the dark and exhibited or shown always under low light levels at maximum 45 Lux except for pertinent photography and/or laboratory examination.

Miniatures should be kept in a cool, dry, dark place with a stable environment, ideally at 50% relative humidity (RH) and 18 degrees Celsius.

White cotton gloves must be worn at all times to handle miniature cases, lockets and frames.

Miniatures are exhibited only in environmentally controlled and stable exhibition rooms and display cases.

Miniatures may be loaned for exhibitions when the highest standards are guaranteed for packing, crating, shipping and installation.

Great care must be taken when handling unframed miniature paintings as body heat generated by the hand will immediately transfer to the miniature.

Human hands produce oils which can be transfered to miniatures, staining them.

[blumoon]

Interesting information. Thanks for posting. :)

[PMurphy42]

Good info. I guess If I paid up to 7000.00 for a mini....like I've heard some famous mini artists paint....I wouldn't let anyone touch them. :D

[Bertoni]

Can't help but wonder why a miniature done in acrylics and coated with a protective varnish should be any different than an a larger acrylic painting?
Just wondering? I don't really know the answer!!!! :)

[Sonia]

Bertoni, I expect these conditions are for antique miniatures - no acrylics then :rolleyes:

On a recent trip to Prague, I was able to visit a miniature exhibition in the Castle - the earliest examples dated in the 1500's. Of course, most of these were miniature portraits - some framed in velvet, some trimmed with metal braid and stones, others in leather cases, some on ceramics. One that interested me was a child's toy - a small, shallow oval box with a miniature portrait in the bottom, plus about 16 translucent natural mica oval overlays, each painted with a different hairstyle, hat, costume bodice, so that the appearance of the original could be changed at whim! A very expensive "toy" I should imagine.

[yoyita_yoyita]

Even today's materials, some will fade, no matter if painted in large format or miniatures, we should always check the lighfasten of each color.

Yes we have many nice colors, but some will not survive the test of time, no matter the binder (acrylic, oils, etc.)