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Conservation & Art Materials Encyclopedia Online
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The Conservation and Art Materials Encyclopedia Online (CAMEO) is a database that compiles, defines, and disseminates technical information on the distinct collection of terms, materials, and techniques used in the fields of art conservation and historic preservation. First developed as a materials database in 1997 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston it has expanded with the cooperation of different institutions to include several reference collections. Learn more about CAMEO.
To use CAMEO, select any of the databases on the left or simply search by entering text into the search box at the top right.
- Materials Database: chemical, physical, visual, and analytical information on historic and contemporary materials used in the production and conservation of artistic, architectural, archaeological, and anthropological materials.
- Dye Analysis: text
- Fiber Reference Image Library: A database of images of textile fibers acquired through the use of multiple microscopic techniques, created with support from the National Center for Preservation Training and Technology (NCPTT).
- Forbes Pigment Database: text
- Uemura Dye Archive: A collection of 744 dyed fabrics prepared in the early 20th century by Uemura Rokuro, a scholar of traditional dyeing techniques in Japan.
- Asian Textile Database: Textiles used in East Asian painting in collaboration with the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art
NEWS
UPDATED SPECTRA
A concerted effort is currently underway to evaluate and upgrade the analytical spectra that are presented in CAMEO. This primarily includes examining current Infrared and Raman spectra to ensure their accuracy as well as to provide images with wavelength markers for the major peaks. See for example the Brochantite slider gallery shown on this page. For this particular sample, the Forbes pigment jar was labeled ‘Malachite Green’, but all analysis techniques confirmed its identity to be brochantite. One of our efforts has been directed toward correctly identifying the pigments in the Forbes reference set. The major work on MFA contributions is being done by Dr. Erin Mysak. Concurrently, Dr. Abed Haddad, the David Booth Fellow in Conservation Science from the Museum of Modern Art in New York City is examining and contributing to the Raman reference set.
Funding for these updates were received from:
- Sotheby’s Scientific Research Department
AIC MATERIALS WORKING GROUP
The Materials Selection and Specification Working Group (MWG) at the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) is leading an effort to provide a resource bank of information that will help develop best practices in selection of materials used in the preservation, transport, and display of cultural heritage. CAMEO has been designated as the platform for the consolidated information on materials with new sets of information added under the headers: Applications, Personal Risks, Collection Risks, Environmental Risks, Working Properties, and Forms/Sizes. The ‘Additional Information’ field will contain links to the Oddy Test results residing in the AIC Wiki. The ‘Environmental Risks’ section will be populated with information developed as part of the recently funded NEH grant for Life Cycle Assessment of materials and treatments used in cultural conservation. CAMEO will also provide links to the Life Cycle Assessment tool that will enable the comparison of carbon footprints for over 3000 materials.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
Stayed tuned to this page for databases now in progress for Asian Textiles and Japanese woodblock prints.
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