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TARA
Paper for Conservation
Conservation is
humanity caring for the future
Nancy Newhall
TARA - Handmade
Paper, usually associated with Quality, is now associated with
Conservation.
TARA manufactures its acid free range of paper across a spectrum of
grammage and finishes; 80 to 2000 GSM. The National Museum for
Manuscripts has provided continued feedback during the customisation
process. Through these efforts, other museums and state archives are
also able to procure the TARA paper for their conservation and
restoration needs.
Conservation of art objects is gradually catching on in India as we
realise their importance in our history and heritage. A lot of emphasis
is laid on the material used in the conservation of art objects. The
main criteria for the material used is the reversibility factor, there
should be no alteration in the chemistry of the object. Conservation of
paper objects in India has been gaining great momentum of late. This is
mainly due to government efforts and the setting up of National Mission
for Manuscripts.
In India there has always been a dearth of such conservation materials.
This problem has been acutely felt in places where conservation
activities were taking place and large supplies were required. The
conservators either had to make the best of the situation or import the
material at exorbitant costs.
Given Indias large repositories of manuscripts, prints, photographs,
paintings on paper and so on, there is the urgent need to have
continuous supplies of material related to conservation of paper-based
art. TARA-Handmade Paper is tested and certified for high quality.
The use of poor quality mounting and back boards has resulted in a lot
of damage to the paper support, rendering it fragile. These damages can
easily be avoided if all museums, ASI and others start using TARA acid
free boards for mounting and back board purposes. TARA acid free
mounts are of handmade paper made from cotton rags. For repair of art
objects different types of paper are used. TARA Acidic boards used as
back boards are pasted with handmade paper of about 2000 gsm to avoid
direct contact of fumes generated from the board to the textile or
paper.
Experience has therefore shown that TARA Paper, which is very
different to machine made paper, has tremendous scope for use in
conservation laboratories. Conservators along with the TARA Paper
manufacturers have to sit together and fabricate the paper, which can be
used in different conservation treatments. This paper can also be added
to others in order to provide them with insecticidal and fungicidal
properties.
A lot more research needs to be carried out by conservation scientists
to determine the several other applications to which TARA Paper can be
put; e.g. for wrapping and packaging art objects.
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For further enquiries, contact:
Mr. Sameer Gora
Technology and Action For Rural
Advancement (TARA)
Village - Ghittorni
Near - NBCC Campus
Mehrauli - Gurgaon Road
New Delhi - 110 030
Tel: 011 2680 1521, 2680 4480
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