One of the most important elements in turning a house into a home is the décor that fills it. Sculptures, antiques, and fine art often become cherished possessions, valued not only for their historical or emotional significance but also for their potential as financial investments.
Proper care is essential to ensure that your collections stand the test of time, but knowing where to begin can be a challenge. In this article, we’ll explore practical steps to help you protect your treasured items, allowing your home to remain a place of happiness and memories.
How to keep your art a true work of art
- Heat: Even the simplest daily tasks such as opening windows in summer or turning on the heating in winter can impact your art. Frequent temperature and humidity changes can cause stress on your art through repeated swelling and shrinking. To combat this, The British Association of Paintings Conservator-Restorers recommend maintaining a consistent temperature between 18 and 24°C and that the relative humidity should be kept between 40% and 60%, with no more than a 10% variation within a 24-hour period1 .
- Light: Light energy can cause your artwork’s molecules to break apart. This separation produces acidity as a byproduct, which gradually damages the canvas and paint, leading to fading. Luckily, there are some simple tips to avoid this from occurring, such as: keeping your paintings out of direct sunlight, putting UV filters on windows and switching unfiltered fluorescent lighting for low UV lighting, such as LED2.
- Framing: Framing your art not only looks nice but also provides important protection. Ensure your art sits comfortably in the frame and that the fixtures are strong enough to withstand the weight. The frame rebate should be lined to create a smooth or cushioned surface, protecting the edges of the painting from damage. Additionally, it's important to leave a gap between the painting and the wall to ensure proper air circulation, as stagnant air can encourage the growth of mold. Attaching cork ‘bumpers’ to the back of your frame is an easy way to create the well-needed gap3. Finally, using UV-filtering glazing can further protect your art from fading.
Giving your antiques a new lease of life
- Heat and Light: Similarly to artwork, antiques respond negatively to certain temperatures and levels of humidity, however it can be more challenging to protect these items as they cannot be put behind frames for protection. This is often seen in bronze objects, that infamously turn green in what conservators call “Bronze Disease”4. To avoid this, regularly clean and wax your antiques and keep them away from windows and direct sunlight. Wooden collections should be treated with the same care, to protect the surfaces from cracking over time.
Ensure your sculpture’s care routine is rock-solid
- Handling: Even sculptures made of metal are delicate and must be handled correctly. Ideally, sculptures should be handled as little as possible to protect them from fingerprints and marks, however, wearing cotton gloves can provide a gentle barrier between you and your collection if necessary.
- Weather: Indoor sculptures are never supposed to be outdoors. Keep them away from direct sunlight and windows to avoid rain splashes and the wind.
- Cleaning: Dust is a normal obstacle in all homes; however, it can cause long-term damage to your sculptures. Cleaning products can combat this, but make sure you are using the correct methods. Cleaning agents, strong detergents, sprays, and polishes should never be used to clean or change the surface texture5. If in doubt about products to use, contact the gallery or artist.
Insurance for life’s mishaps
Accidents can happen, and even the most carefully safeguarded possessions are vulnerable to unexpected events. Whether it’s a simple slip on the living room carpet, a mishap with cleaning, a nasty storm or a break-in; these incidents can cause significant damage to your belongings and lead to frustrating losses.
It’s therefore crucial to ensure your possessions are properly valued and protected with the right insurance coverage. Regularly updating your home insurance policy and reassessing the value of your items can help avoid underinsurance and give you peace of mind knowing you’re appropriately covered when life’s surprises occur.
Contact us
To find out more about how we can help protect your home and prize possessions, get in touch with the team by emailing privateclients@specialistrisk.com or request a home insurance quote here.
Sources
- The British Association of Paintings Conservator-Restorers: Care for your Paintings - BAPCR - The British Association of Paintings Conservator-Restorers
- The Observer: How to Take Care of an Art Collection | Observer
- Artworks Conservation: 5 top conservation tips for protecting framed pictures
- The Observer: How to Take Care of an Art Collection | Observer
- The Economic Times: How to protect and maintain your sculptures - The Economic Times