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BackingBoardsFoam Core Corrugated Cardboard Heritage/Blue BoardHoneycomb BoardCoroplast/CorrugatedPlastic SheetsAcrylic Sheeting Mat Board Mylar (Polyester Film)Materials used as backing boards:Polyethylene Hard FoamPolyester Fleece/BattingCushioning FoamPadding Material:Hardware:Bäschlin, Nathalie, Matthias Läuchli, Thomas Fankhauser, Cornelius Palmbach, andAnita Hoess. 2011. “Backing Boards and Glazing on Paintings: Their DampingCapacity in Relation to Shock Impact and Vibration,” Paintings Working Group.Lisbon Portugal: Critério Artes Gráficas, Lda.; ICOM Committee for Conservation,2011.Benavides, Adriana. 2022 “Notes on Personal Experience in Framing.” Unpublishednotes, October 25, 2022. Google Document. Amundsen, Melissa, Sarah Sanchez, and Sarah Nunberg. 2022. “Backing Boards forPaintings, Objects Support, and Housing: Comparing Archival FoamCore,Coroplast, Archival Corrugated Board, and Standard Corrugated Cardboard.” STich,2022. https://stich.culturalheritage.org/backing-boards/.What is a backing board? They are used for manydifferent kinds of art andcultural heritage objects.The overarching types exploredin this tri-fold are: stretched paintings, East Asian Paintings,works on paper, and textiles.This tri-fold is by no means exhaustive but aculmination of a semester’s worth of research.A backing board is material that canprovide support and protection to anartwork from behind. The materials used as backingboards can vary depending onthe needs of the artwork inquestion and the environment itwill be housed in.References Canadian Conservation Institute. 2017. “Backing Boards for Paintings on Canvas –Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) Notes 10/10.” Government of Canada,Canadian Conservation Institute, September 12, 2017.https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/conservation-preservation-publications/canadian-conservation-institute-notes/backing-boards-paintings.html.Gridley, Mary. 2020. “Backing Boards.” AIC Wiki: A Collaborative KnowledgeResource, May 11, 2020. https://www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/Backing_Boards.Hintz, Mirjam. 2019. “Backing Boards for Canvas Paintings.” Just Paint: Golden ArtistColors, Inc, July 29, 2019. https://justpaint.org/backing-boards-for-canvas-paintings/.Michalski, Stefan. 2004. “Risk Analysis of Backing Boards for Paintings: DampClimates vs Cold Climates,” 8. Thiene, 2004.https://www.academia.edu/856646/2004._Risk_analysis_of_backing_boards_for_paintings_damp_climates_vs_cold_climates.William Donnelly, interview by Adriana Benavides, November 2, 2022. Unpublished.Padfield, Tim, Nicolas Padfield, Daniel Sang-Hoon Lee, Anne Thøgersen, AstridValbjørn Nielsen, Cecil Krarup Andersen, and Mikkel Scharff. 2020. “Back Protectionof Canvas Paintings.” Heritage Science 8, no. 1 (December 2020): 96.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-020-00435-7. Hong, Tammy. 2022. Personal Communication. Text to the Author. October 18,2022.Kato, Masato, and Takayuki Kimishima. 2015. “Karibari: The Japanese DryingTechnique.” In Adapt & Evolve: East Asian Materials and Techniques in WesternConservation. International Conference of the Icon Book & Paper Group. London:Icon, 2015.Kosek, Joanna, Jin Xian Qiu, Carol Weiss, Catherine Higgitt, and CarolineCartwright. 2015. “The Admonitions Scroll: Condition, Treatment and Housing 1903–2014.” The British Museum: Technical Research Bulletin 9 (2015): 21.Sheldon Frantz, interview by Adriana Benavides, October 27, 2022.Unpublished. Adriana Benavides created this tri-fold during hersecond year at the Winterthur/University ofDelaware’s Program in Art Conservation. Thisproject started as an annotated bibliography whichexplored the different benefits, materials, andattachment techniques of backing boards as apreventive measure against damage for paintings.There were efforts also made to investigate use ofbacking boards outside of stretched paintings. Ifyou are interested in more in depth information,email abenav@udel.edu for a copy of theannotated bibliography.Background Mending PlatesMetals: Brass, Stainless Steel, andZinc/Chrome-Plated metalsFramers PointsScrews withFlat/Cup WashersSometimes padding will be added to give extra support to astretched canvas. The padding fills the cavity behind thepainting but should not cause bulging. Padding is typicallyattached to the backing board with adhesive.Offset Clips
Note that the effectiveness can be dependent on chosen material Reasons to useBacking BoardsProtection againstphysical forces frombehind/handling Block pollutionBlock dust & dirtPest mitigationBuffer changesin RH (relative humidity) Variables to ConsiderThere are many variables to consider when choosing a backing board. Price (financial sustainability)Ecological Sustainability/reusability Vibration Dampening RH Buffering Weight AvailabilityRelative humidity (RH) is the amount of moisture in the airat a given temperature. Materials like textiles, wood, andpaper absorb and release environmental moisture to be inequilibrium, which can cause physical distortions. Thiscan also be dangerous for layered structures withdifferent reactivities. High RH in dark areas can causecondensation which can lead to biological growth if leftunchecked.What is relative humidity andwhy is it such a big deal?Vibrations can cause and exacerbate damage to the paintedsurface. Stretched paintings are built similar to drums andrapid movement of the canvas can cause severe damage,cracking, and insecurity of the painted surface which is notintended to flex to that degree. Most studies aroundpaintings in this area focus on vibrations experiencedduring transport but long term effects of everyday vibrationfrom foot traffic, construction, and music still need to bestudied further. Why worry about vibrations?It is highly recommended that stretched paintings, framed orunframed, have a backing board attached as it can serve manyprotective functions. Works on paper require rigid support toprevent damage from folding, bending, andmishandling. If paper is framed it will have aboard which the artwork is attached to.Additional backing boards can offer extraprotection. The support board and additionalboards could all be considered backingboards.Textiles sometimes require a rigid supportfor safe handling and display. Additionally,they need something with a cushioningeffect. A board can be wrapped in variouslayers of batting and fabric to provide bothrigidity and cushion. If the textile is stableenough, it can be hand stitched to the board. Typically East Asian paintings are layeredstructures where structural support is providedby layers of paper and silk. There is no trueequivalent to a Western understanding ofbacking boards. However, there are somestructures that have similar functions. Karibariboards provide structural stability but areintended to be temporary. Some East Asianpaintings are attached to textile covered latticedboards devised by Western caretakers.TextilesStretched Paintings Works on PaperEast Asian PaintingsA simplifieddiagram of aKaribari, withthe greenrepresentingmultiple layersof paper and theyellow the finallayer that hasbeen soaked in persimmonjuice Layered textile support: mat orblue board wrapped with polyester batting (blue) and textile(green)Typical configurationof mat boards forframed works onpaper with a windowmatCourtesy of L.O.CA cross section diagram of aninstalled backing board. This hasfoam strips between backingboard and stretchers, but thoseare optional. Courtesy of Government of Canada, CCIShock DissipationVibration Reduction &
Note that the effectiveness can be dependent on chosen material Reasons to useBacking BoardsProtection againstphysical forces frombehind/handling Block pollutionBlock dust & dirtPest mitigationBuffer changesin RH (relative humidity) Variables to ConsiderThere are many variables to consider when choosing a backing board. Price (financial sustainability)Ecological Sustainability/reusability Vibration Dampening RH Buffering Weight AvailabilityRelative humidity (RH) is the amount of moisture in the airat a given temperature. Materials like textiles, wood, andpaper absorb and release environmental moisture to be inequilibrium, which can cause physical distortions. Thiscan also be dangerous for layered structures withdifferent reactivities. High RH in dark areas can causecondensation which can lead to biological growth if leftunchecked.What is relative humidity andwhy is it such a big deal?Vibrations can cause and exacerbate damage to the paintedsurface. Stretched paintings are built similar to drums andrapid movement of the canvas can cause severe damage,cracking, and insecurity of the painted surface which is notintended to flex to that degree. Most studies aroundpaintings in this area focus on vibrations experiencedduring transport but long term effects of everyday vibrationfrom foot traffic, construction, and music still need to bestudied further. Why worry about vibrations?It is highly recommended that stretched paintings, framed orunframed, have a backing board attached as it can serve manyprotective functions. Works on paper require rigid support toprevent damage from folding, bending, andmishandling. If paper is framed it will have aboard which the artwork is attached to.Additional backing boards can offer extraprotection. The support board and additionalboards could all be considered backingboards.Textiles sometimes require a rigid supportfor safe handling and display. Additionally,they need something with a cushioningeffect. A board can be wrapped in variouslayers of batting and fabric to provide bothrigidity and cushion. If the textile is stableenough, it can be hand stitched to the board. Typically East Asian paintings are layeredstructures where structural support is providedby layers of paper and silk. There is no trueequivalent to a Western understanding ofbacking boards. However, there are somestructures that have similar functions. Karibariboards provide structural stability but areintended to be temporary. Some East Asianpaintings are attached to textile covered latticedboards devised by Western caretakers.TextilesStretched Paintings Works on PaperEast Asian PaintingsA simplifieddiagram of aKaribari, withthe greenrepresentingmultiple layersof paper and theyellow the finallayer that hasbeen soaked in persimmonjuice Layered textile support: mat orblue board wrapped with polyester batting (blue) and textile(green)Typical configurationof mat boards forframed works onpaper with a windowmatCourtesy of L.O.CA cross section diagram of aninstalled backing board. This hasfoam strips between backingboard and stretchers, but thoseare optional. Courtesy of Government of Canada, CCIShock DissipationVibration Reduction &
Note that the effectiveness can be dependent on chosen material Reasons to useBacking BoardsProtection againstphysical forces frombehind/handling Block pollutionBlock dust & dirtPest mitigationBuffer changesin RH (relative humidity) Variables to ConsiderThere are many variables to consider when choosing a backing board. Price (financial sustainability)Ecological Sustainability/reusability Vibration Dampening RH Buffering Weight AvailabilityRelative humidity (RH) is the amount of moisture in the airat a given temperature. Materials like textiles, wood, andpaper absorb and release environmental moisture to be inequilibrium, which can cause physical distortions. Thiscan also be dangerous for layered structures withdifferent reactivities. High RH in dark areas can causecondensation which can lead to biological growth if leftunchecked.What is relative humidity andwhy is it such a big deal?Vibrations can cause and exacerbate damage to the paintedsurface. Stretched paintings are built similar to drums andrapid movement of the canvas can cause severe damage,cracking, and insecurity of the painted surface which is notintended to flex to that degree. Most studies aroundpaintings in this area focus on vibrations experiencedduring transport but long term effects of everyday vibrationfrom foot traffic, construction, and music still need to bestudied further. Why worry about vibrations?It is highly recommended that stretched paintings, framed orunframed, have a backing board attached as it can serve manyprotective functions. Works on paper require rigid support toprevent damage from folding, bending, andmishandling. If paper is framed it will have aboard which the artwork is attached to.Additional backing boards can offer extraprotection. The support board and additionalboards could all be considered backingboards.Textiles sometimes require a rigid supportfor safe handling and display. Additionally,they need something with a cushioningeffect. A board can be wrapped in variouslayers of batting and fabric to provide bothrigidity and cushion. If the textile is stableenough, it can be hand stitched to the board. Typically East Asian paintings are layeredstructures where structural support is providedby layers of paper and silk. There is no trueequivalent to a Western understanding ofbacking boards. However, there are somestructures that have similar functions. Karibariboards provide structural stability but areintended to be temporary. Some East Asianpaintings are attached to textile covered latticedboards devised by Western caretakers.TextilesStretched Paintings Works on PaperEast Asian PaintingsA simplifieddiagram of aKaribari, withthe greenrepresentingmultiple layersof paper and theyellow the finallayer that hasbeen soaked in persimmonjuice Layered textile support: mat orblue board wrapped with polyester batting (blue) and textile(green)Typical configurationof mat boards forframed works onpaper with a windowmatCourtesy of L.O.CA cross section diagram of aninstalled backing board. This hasfoam strips between backingboard and stretchers, but thoseare optional. Courtesy of Government of Canada, CCIShock DissipationVibration Reduction &
BackingBoardsFoam Core Corrugated Cardboard Heritage/Blue BoardHoneycomb BoardCoroplast/CorrugatedPlastic SheetsAcrylic Sheeting Mat Board Mylar (Polyester Film)Materials used as backing boards:Polyethylene Hard FoamPolyester Fleece/BattingCushioning FoamPadding Material:Hardware:Bäschlin, Nathalie, Matthias Läuchli, Thomas Fankhauser, Cornelius Palmbach, andAnita Hoess. 2011. “Backing Boards and Glazing on Paintings: Their DampingCapacity in Relation to Shock Impact and Vibration,” Paintings Working Group.Lisbon Portugal: Critério Artes Gráficas, Lda.; ICOM Committee for Conservation,2011.Benavides, Adriana. 2022 “Notes on Personal Experience in Framing.” Unpublishednotes, October 25, 2022. Google Document. Amundsen, Melissa, Sarah Sanchez, and Sarah Nunberg. 2022. “Backing Boards forPaintings, Objects Support, and Housing: Comparing Archival FoamCore,Coroplast, Archival Corrugated Board, and Standard Corrugated Cardboard.” STich,2022. https://stich.culturalheritage.org/backing-boards/.What is a backing board? They are used for manydifferent kinds of art andcultural heritage objects.The overarching types exploredin this tri-fold are: stretched paintings, East Asian Paintings,works on paper, and textiles.This tri-fold is by no means exhaustive but aculmination of a semester’s worth of research.A backing board is material that canprovide support and protection to anartwork from behind. The materials used as backingboards can vary depending onthe needs of the artwork inquestion and the environment itwill be housed in.References Canadian Conservation Institute. 2017. “Backing Boards for Paintings on Canvas –Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) Notes 10/10.” Government of Canada,Canadian Conservation Institute, September 12, 2017.https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/conservation-preservation-publications/canadian-conservation-institute-notes/backing-boards-paintings.html.Gridley, Mary. 2020. “Backing Boards.” AIC Wiki: A Collaborative KnowledgeResource, May 11, 2020. https://www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/Backing_Boards.Hintz, Mirjam. 2019. “Backing Boards for Canvas Paintings.” Just Paint: Golden ArtistColors, Inc, July 29, 2019. https://justpaint.org/backing-boards-for-canvas-paintings/.Michalski, Stefan. 2004. “Risk Analysis of Backing Boards for Paintings: DampClimates vs Cold Climates,” 8. Thiene, 2004.https://www.academia.edu/856646/2004._Risk_analysis_of_backing_boards_for_paintings_damp_climates_vs_cold_climates.William Donnelly, interview by Adriana Benavides, November 2, 2022. Unpublished.Padfield, Tim, Nicolas Padfield, Daniel Sang-Hoon Lee, Anne Thøgersen, AstridValbjørn Nielsen, Cecil Krarup Andersen, and Mikkel Scharff. 2020. “Back Protectionof Canvas Paintings.” Heritage Science 8, no. 1 (December 2020): 96.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-020-00435-7. Hong, Tammy. 2022. Personal Communication. Text to the Author. October 18,2022.Kato, Masato, and Takayuki Kimishima. 2015. “Karibari: The Japanese DryingTechnique.” In Adapt & Evolve: East Asian Materials and Techniques in WesternConservation. International Conference of the Icon Book & Paper Group. London:Icon, 2015.Kosek, Joanna, Jin Xian Qiu, Carol Weiss, Catherine Higgitt, and CarolineCartwright. 2015. “The Admonitions Scroll: Condition, Treatment and Housing 1903–2014.” The British Museum: Technical Research Bulletin 9 (2015): 21.Sheldon Frantz, interview by Adriana Benavides, October 27, 2022.Unpublished. Adriana Benavides created this tri-fold during hersecond year at the Winterthur/University ofDelaware’s Program in Art Conservation. Thisproject started as an annotated bibliography whichexplored the different benefits, materials, andattachment techniques of backing boards as apreventive measure against damage for paintings.There were efforts also made to investigate use ofbacking boards outside of stretched paintings. Ifyou are interested in more in depth information,email abenav@udel.edu for a copy of theannotated bibliography.Background Mending PlatesMetals: Brass, Stainless Steel, andZinc/Chrome-Plated metalsFramers PointsScrews withFlat/Cup WashersSometimes padding will be added to give extra support to astretched canvas. The padding fills the cavity behind thepainting but should not cause bulging. Padding is typicallyattached to the backing board with adhesive.Offset Clips
BackingBoardsFoam Core Corrugated Cardboard Heritage/Blue BoardHoneycomb BoardCoroplast/CorrugatedPlastic SheetsAcrylic Sheeting Mat Board Mylar (Polyester Film)Materials used as backing boards:Polyethylene Hard FoamPolyester Fleece/BattingCushioning FoamPadding Material:Hardware:Bäschlin, Nathalie, Matthias Läuchli, Thomas Fankhauser, Cornelius Palmbach, andAnita Hoess. 2011. “Backing Boards and Glazing on Paintings: Their DampingCapacity in Relation to Shock Impact and Vibration,” Paintings Working Group.Lisbon Portugal: Critério Artes Gráficas, Lda.; ICOM Committee for Conservation,2011.Benavides, Adriana. 2022 “Notes on Personal Experience in Framing.” Unpublishednotes, October 25, 2022. Google Document. Amundsen, Melissa, Sarah Sanchez, and Sarah Nunberg. 2022. “Backing Boards forPaintings, Objects Support, and Housing: Comparing Archival FoamCore,Coroplast, Archival Corrugated Board, and Standard Corrugated Cardboard.” STich,2022. https://stich.culturalheritage.org/backing-boards/.What is a backing board? They are used for manydifferent kinds of art andcultural heritage objects.The overarching types exploredin this tri-fold are: stretched paintings, East Asian Paintings,works on paper, and textiles.This tri-fold is by no means exhaustive but aculmination of a semester’s worth of research.A backing board is material that canprovide support and protection to anartwork from behind. The materials used as backingboards can vary depending onthe needs of the artwork inquestion and the environment itwill be housed in.References Canadian Conservation Institute. 2017. “Backing Boards for Paintings on Canvas –Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) Notes 10/10.” Government of Canada,Canadian Conservation Institute, September 12, 2017.https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute/services/conservation-preservation-publications/canadian-conservation-institute-notes/backing-boards-paintings.html.Gridley, Mary. 2020. “Backing Boards.” AIC Wiki: A Collaborative KnowledgeResource, May 11, 2020. https://www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/Backing_Boards.Hintz, Mirjam. 2019. “Backing Boards for Canvas Paintings.” Just Paint: Golden ArtistColors, Inc, July 29, 2019. https://justpaint.org/backing-boards-for-canvas-paintings/.Michalski, Stefan. 2004. “Risk Analysis of Backing Boards for Paintings: DampClimates vs Cold Climates,” 8. Thiene, 2004.https://www.academia.edu/856646/2004._Risk_analysis_of_backing_boards_for_paintings_damp_climates_vs_cold_climates.William Donnelly, interview by Adriana Benavides, November 2, 2022. Unpublished.Padfield, Tim, Nicolas Padfield, Daniel Sang-Hoon Lee, Anne Thøgersen, AstridValbjørn Nielsen, Cecil Krarup Andersen, and Mikkel Scharff. 2020. “Back Protectionof Canvas Paintings.” Heritage Science 8, no. 1 (December 2020): 96.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-020-00435-7. Hong, Tammy. 2022. Personal Communication. Text to the Author. October 18,2022.Kato, Masato, and Takayuki Kimishima. 2015. “Karibari: The Japanese DryingTechnique.” In Adapt & Evolve: East Asian Materials and Techniques in WesternConservation. International Conference of the Icon Book & Paper Group. London:Icon, 2015.Kosek, Joanna, Jin Xian Qiu, Carol Weiss, Catherine Higgitt, and CarolineCartwright. 2015. “The Admonitions Scroll: Condition, Treatment and Housing 1903–2014.” The British Museum: Technical Research Bulletin 9 (2015): 21.Sheldon Frantz, interview by Adriana Benavides, October 27, 2022.Unpublished. Adriana Benavides created this tri-fold during hersecond year at the Winterthur/University ofDelaware’s Program in Art Conservation. Thisproject started as an annotated bibliography whichexplored the different benefits, materials, andattachment techniques of backing boards as apreventive measure against damage for paintings.There were efforts also made to investigate use ofbacking boards outside of stretched paintings. Ifyou are interested in more in depth information,email abenav@udel.edu for a copy of theannotated bibliography.Background Mending PlatesMetals: Brass, Stainless Steel, andZinc/Chrome-Plated metalsFramers PointsScrews withFlat/Cup WashersSometimes padding will be added to give extra support to astretched canvas. The padding fills the cavity behind thepainting but should not cause bulging. Padding is typicallyattached to the backing board with adhesive.Offset Clips