Getty Conservation Institute Reference Collection
Type Collection
Date of creation of the archive
- 1990s
Date of closure of the archive
- N/A
Creator(s) of the archive
- Getty Conservation Insitute
Summary Description
- The collection contains a range of reference materials from the fields of cultural heritage and conservation. It is primarily composed of commercially acquired materials representing a range of manufacturers, sources, and grades, as well as historic reference samples from a variety of sources. The collection includes pigments, dyes, paints, pastels, drawing materials, stone, wood, photographic paper, film, mock-ups, certified and reference standards. The collection also contains samples from historical collections including the Forbes pigment collection, the Getten's collection of binding media and varnishes, the Alaimo marble collection, and the Schweppe dyed fiber collection.
Extent
- Type and number of units
- 20 000
Material type
- Animal material
Building related material
Ceramic, glass, enamel
Metal
Non-cellular natural organics
Organic synthethic material
Paper
Photographic paper
Pigment
Plant materials - others
Salt
Stone
Stucco
Textile, fabric, dyes
Wood
Geographic Distribution
- Worldwide
Statement of Significance
- Established in the 1990s, the collection is comprised of over 20 000 samples of materials used in cultural heritage. It consists of pigments, dyes, minerals, stone, wood, oils, resins, historical collections, and more. The collection is continuously expanding through purchases, donations, and exchanges. The collection serves as a resource of reference materials to support the research agendas and service tasks of the Getty and the international cultural heritage community. Materials in the collection represent a range of dates, manufacturers, geographic origins, and recipes. They play a vital role in the identification, characterization, and assessment of cultural heritage; as well as providing new insights into working processes and materials.
Accessibility
- Yes - upon request
Access requirements
- Access to the collection and materials are determined on a case by case basis following submission and review of requests.
Type of users
- Conservation professionsals, cutlural heritage organizations, researchers, students, and the general public.
Keywords
- Archaeology
Conservation
Education/Didactic
Preventive conservation
Reference collection
Restoration
Treatment
Finding aids
- FileMaker Pro database of sample information available on-site