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Stringed Instruments

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    • #134223
      Rebekah
      Participant

      When stringed instruments in a collection need to be conserved, is it better to have them worked on by a conservator or luthier? Do factors such as if the instrument is going to be played or the severity or type of problem to be fixed influence whether a conservator or luthier is called in?

    • #134225
      Sara Andrews
      Participant

      Hi Rebekah,

      The Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute has a lot of information on this topic and many references on who you might want to contact for very specific information – it can be found here: http://www.si.edu/mci/english/learn_more/taking_care/musinst.html

      I’m not sure, but have a feeling – that this question needs to be answered with more information about the specific instrument – its age, its condition, and intended uses as you hypothesized.

      I might also suggest that you get a hold of this title – most likely through interlibrary loan, The Conservation, Restoration, and Repair of Stringed Instruments and Their Bows: http://www.worldcat.org/title/conservation-restoration-and-repair-of-stringed-instruments-and-their-bows/oclc/651119237&referer=brief_results

      I also checked the AIC to see if they have any conservators listed as specialized in musical instruments, here are their listings:

      Barbara Appelbaum
      Specialties: Archaeological Objects, Decorative Arts, Dolls, Ethnographic Objects, Folk Arts, Historic/Technical Objects, Musical Instruments, Natural Science Objects, Sculpture
      Services: Treatment, Consultation-General, Collections Management, Conservation Planning, Environmental Assessment, Examination, Exhibit Consultation, Pest Control, Storage Design, Surveys-General, Surveys-Object Specific, Teaching/Lecturing
      Membership Type: Fellow
      Materials: Bricks, Ceramics, Feathers, Fibers, Ivory and Bone, Lacquer, Leather, Modern/Contemporary, Painted/Polychromed Surfaces, Papyrus/Tappa/Amatyl, Plaster, Reeds/Grasses, Shell, Textiles, Wood
      Website URL: http://www.AandHConservation.org

      and

      Thomas Braun
      Specialties: Archaeological Objects, Clocks/Watches, Decorative Arts, Dolls, Ethnographic Objects, Folk Arts, Furniture, Historic/Technical Objects, Musical Instruments, Natural Science Objects, Outdoor Sculpture, Sculpture
      Services: Treatment, Consultation-General, Analysis, Conservation Matting/Framing, Conservation Planning, Conservation Science, Documentation, Duplication/Copying (library & archive), Examination, Exhibit Consultation, Materials Testing, Pest Control, Surveys-General, Surveys-Object Specific, Teaching/Lecturing
      Membership Type: Professional Associate
      Materials: Bricks, Ceramics, Feathers, Fibers, Gilded Surfaces, Glass, Ivory and Bone, Lacquer, Leather, Metals, Modern/Contemporary, Painted/Polychromed Surfaces, Paper, Papyrus/Tappa/Amatyl, Plaster, Plastics/Synthetics/Rubber, Reeds/Grasses, Shell, Stone, Wood
      Website URL: http://www.mnhs.org

      I hope that was useful.

      Sara Andrews
      Library Preservation Specialist
      Wisconsin Historical Society

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