Abstract:
An improved technique for the restoration of paintings, documents and the like and in particular an improved apparatus for and associated method of lining a painting or document to restore and preserve the original texture thereof. For paintings with good texture requiring only lining, a cold adhesive system is preferably used employing a substrate adhesively coated on both sides finished with a lining cloth. For paintings having a surface that is intact but with irregularities (cuping) heat is applied preferably with a hot table accompanied with the use of softening solvents and controlled lateral tension is applied to the painting using a mechanical strainer constructed in accordance with this invention to apply lateral tension in all directions to correct deformations in the surface plane of the painting. The lining of the painting may then be accomplished by a cold or hot adhesive process. For paintings in poor condition having internal imperfections such as loosened or flaking paint, the above steps may be used along with the application of an electrostatic field, rather than with the use of vacuum forces which tend to damage the surface texture of the painting, to preserve and return the painting's original surface texture.