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The Conservation Lab
The Conservation Lab
The Conservation Lab
The Conservation Lab
The Conservation Lab
The Conservation Lab
The Conservation Lab
The Conservation Lab
The Conservation Lab
The Conservation Lab

The Conservation Lab
for Cultural Heritage

Napa Valley fields

What is conservation?

Conservation is a field encompassing all actions performed by professional conservators to slow the deterioration and improve the condition of tangible heritage items. This term covers a wide variety of materials, ranging from artifacts to buildings and archaeological sites that may hold historical, economic, cultural, artistic, or sentimental value. Due to this broad scope, there are many areas of specialization within conservation, all adhering to professional ethical standards and requiring thorough academic study and training.

A distinction is typically made between preventive conservation and active conservation/restoration. Preventive conservation includes all actions taken in the environment of an artifact for its well being, while active conservation, as the name suggests, involves a direct change in the item's condition through intervention by the conservator. Both of these conservation approaches require careful and knowledgeable action by the conservator to avoid causing damage to the tangible heritage items in our care.

Roni Anaki

Holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Art History from the Hebrew University and a Master's degree in Book and Archive Conservation from West Dean College in the UK. Has extensive work experience in the Israeli art field and currently works in the Paper Conservation Department at the Israel Museum.

Nechama Gliksberg

Works as a books and paper conservator at the Israel Museum and as a freelancer. Gained work experience at the National Library and Yad Vashem. Studied at Bezalel and holds a Bachelor's degree in History and Art from the Open University. Studied paper and book conservation in Turin, Italy.

Our Services

We offer all the conservation services needed for a cultural institution in Israel, covering both preventive and active conservation in the areas of paper, archives, and books. You can benefit from both worlds and receive comprehensive, professional conservation support tailored to your collection, without the costs and challenges of establishing an in-house conservation lab.

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The Conservation Lab
The Conservation Lab
The Conservation Lab
The Conservation Lab
The Conservation Lab
The Conservation Lab
The Conservation Lab
The Conservation Lab
The Conservation Lab
The Conservation Lab
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Preliminary Survey: To identify the conservation needs of the collection (with an emphasis on preventive conservation)

A preliminary survey is conducted to identify the conservation needs of the collection, with a primary focus on preventive conservation and establishing goals for a multi-year conservation plan. This process includes an on-site visit by a conservator who assesses the nature of the collection, evaluates current storage conditions, and collaborates with the institution's team to determine needs, resources, and strategies for transitioning from the present state to the desired outcomes. Following the survey, a detailed report is prepared, summarizing conservation recommendations. This document serves as a roadmap for long-term preventive conservation efforts and can also support the institution’s fundraising initiatives for conservation projects.

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In-Depth Survey for a Selected Collection: Focuses on a specific collection

In-depth surveys target a specific collection, subgroup, or type of item within the institution, offering a detailed assessment of conservation needs. Like the preliminary survey, this process involves evaluating all institutional factors affecting the specific collection, including environmental conditions, storage practices, and usage levels. However, the in-depth survey goes further by developing a detailed, long-term action plan for active conservation treatments tailored to the collection's specific needs.

This comprehensive approach provides detailed guidance for treating individual objects and preparing a prioritized treatment plan. After the survey, the institution will receive a thorough report summarizing the conservation recommendations. This document serves as a strategic framework for active conservation efforts, prioritizes treatments based on urgency, and supports funding requests for targeted conservation projects.

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Rehousing Program Support: For the proper storage of the entire collection or a specific collection

Rehousing support, whether for a specific collection or the entire collection, is designed based on findings from an on-site preliminary survey. The program aims to develop a tailored rehousing plan that aligns with the institution's needs, resources, and conservation standards.

Inadequate storage remains one of the leading causes of collection damage in Israel. Many institutions face challenges in improving storage conditions due to resource limitations, often adopting an “all or nothing” approach that delays action. Our program focuses on achieving optimal storage within existing constraints, avoiding perfectionism that hinders progress.

We assist institutions by developing practical work plans, identifying suitable suppliers for storage solutions, and recommending services and products to enhance conditions. Additionally, we provide ongoing support to staff during the rehousing process, offering guidance on proper collection handling to ensure long-term preservation.

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Conservation Consulting and Support: Addressing all your daily conservation needs

Our conservation laboratory is fully equipped to address all your collection's conservation needs. While not physically located within your institution, we are prepared to function as an extension of your team, offering comprehensive conservation support.

Our services include:

• Assisting with exhibition installation and    dismantling.
• Preparing detailed condition reports.
• Supporting the loan or borrowing of    collection items.
• Developing disaster preparedness    procedures for risks such as floods, fires,    or earthquakes.
• Supporting digitization efforts to ensure    the preservation and accessibility of    your collection.

We are dedicated to providing expert guidance and practical solutions to support the care and preservation of your valuable collections.

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Conservation Support Workshops for Collection Staff: Providing conservation orientation for curators, registrars, archivists, and librarians.

Our conservation laboratory offers customized educational workshops for institutional teams working with collection items, including curators, registrars, archivists, and librarians. These workshops are tailored to the institution’s specific needs, focusing on topics relevant to staff roles and the collections they manage.

Workshop topics may include:

• Best practices and common challenges in    collection care.
• Fundamentals of preventive    conservation.
• Identifying and managing pests and    biological threats.
• Emergency preparedness for collections.
• Proper storage techniques.
• Best practices in collection handling.
• Recognizing when to consult a professional conservator.

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Item-Specific Treatment: Active conservation treatment for selected items from the collection

We provide active conservation treatment for works of art on paper, documents, archival materials, and books. Each item is carefully assessed by a conservator to evaluate its condition and determine appropriate treatment options. The conservator prepares a detailed report outlining the item’s physical condition, proposed treatment approaches, and an overall cost estimate for the work.

After the client reviews and approves the proposed treatment plan, the conservator carries out the conservation work. Upon completion, the treated item is returned to the client along with a final treatment report (and images) documenting the process and outcomes.

Conservation is not a one-time action – integrate conservation into the daily care of your collection

Contact Us
Contact Us
Wine country
Four locations
Wine country
Four locations
Wine country
ArcheBase
ArcheBase
ArcheBase
ArcheBase
ArcheBase

חברות במעבדה

אנו במעבדה רואים בשימור עמוד תווך משמעותי בעבודה עם אוספים ונכסי תרבות. לכן, למרות שניתן לקבל את כל אחד מהפתרונות שאנו מציעים באופן פרטני, אנו מעודדים את המוסדות העובדים איתנו להפוך לחברים במעבדה לשימור, ובכך להכניס את נושא השימור לסדר היום המוסדי שלכם, לגבש תכניות ארוכות טווח המלוות את המוסד לאורך השנה, ולהעניק לאוסף שירותי שימור הוליסטיים, המיטיבים עם מצבו.

מנגנון זה, הנהוג במרכזים דומים בעולם, מעניק לכם ליווי צמוד ומאפשר ניצול מקסימלי של תקציבי השימור שברשותכם, ויישום של תכנית טיפול יסודית ואיכותית יותר לאוסף כמכלול.
פרקטיקה זו יכולה גם לעזור בהשגת מקורות מימון חדשים, המעוניינים לרוב לראות תוכנית שימור מקיפה וארוכת תווך המותאמת לאוסף ומוגדרת משימות ומטרות מציאותיות בתוך זמן מוגדר.

גם מהצד שלנו - החברות שלכם עוזרת לנו לתכנן את השנה בצורה מיטיבה, ומבטיחה כי נוכל להמשיך לתת לכם שירות מקצועי לאורך השנה כולה.

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What Is Lorem Ipsum

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

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What Is Lorem Ipsum

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

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What Is Lorem Ipsum

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

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004
What Is Lorem Ipsum

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

Membership in the Conservation Lab

At the Conservation Laboratory, we view conservation as integral to the care and management of collections and cultural heritage. While our services can be accessed individually, we highly encourage institutions to become members. Membership integrates conservation into your institution’s daily operations, allowing for the creation of long-term plans that support the preservation of your collection year-round.

This model, widely used in conservation centers globally, ensures ongoing support and maximizes the efficiency of your conservation budget. It enables the implementation of comprehensive, high-quality treatment plans that benefit the overall condition of your collection.

From our perspective, membership helps us plan and allocate resources effectively, ensuring that we can continue to provide professional, year-round conservation services tailored to your needs.

Q&A
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Assistance with Securing Funding Sources

Institutions are often dependent on grant and donation-based funding. To support a variety of conservation and restoration activities within collections, it is recommended to develop a comprehensive, long-term conservation plan that is tailored to the specific needs of the collection. The plan should define realistic tasks and goals within a specified timeframe. Surveys and long-term project planning are often key in identifying funding sources and securing support for conservation initiatives.

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Who Can Become a Member?

The membership program is designed for cultural institutions, museums, archives, and small to medium-sized collections seeking comprehensive and holistic conservation support for their holdings.

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Can Membership Be Canceled Mid-Year?

Membership in the Conservation Laboratory requires a full-year commitment. This structure allows us to effectively plan for staffing and resources, ensuring we provide optimal service throughout the year.

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The Membership Options Don’t Fit My Needs – Is There an Alternative?

Absolutely! Please contact us, and we will customize a membership package that best suits your specific requirements.

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I Am a Private Collector, Not a Museum or Archive – Is Membership Suitable for Me?

Yes! If you want to integrate conservation practices into managing your private collection, our membership program can provide personalized support tailored to your collection’s needs. Even if existing packages don’t match, feel free to reach out to us.

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What Does the Membership Offer?

Membership packages include a set number of monthly or weekly hours at a subsidized rate, ensuring your collection receives consistent and structured conservation attention. These hours can be used for ongoing support, surveys, item restoration, and more, all based on an annual work plan developed collaboratively.

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What Happens If the Conservation Needs of My Collection Exceed the Allocated Hours?

Additional hours beyond those specified in your membership package will be billed at the full rate. To avoid unexpected costs, we recommend selecting the membership package that best fits your collection’s needs. Please contact us to discuss the most suitable package for your collection.