Posted by Anders Rikardson on August 14, 2000 at 03:11:07:
Don't try to float it of the board yourself, it will probably be disastrous. I would say there is no cost efficient way to take the print of the backing board. A properly educated paper conservator, will probably charge between $100-500, depending on the time used.
More important prints have been destroyed by amateurs and dealers who have undertaken restoration than any other factor. Still today you can see dealers, who in the name of profit, production line cleans and restores prints so they totally ravish them. I especially thinking about a certain gallery in the US, who’s ”restorer” turn the prints in to self destroying objects.
There are only a handful restorers in the world who can preform an adequate conservation/restoration of a Japanese print. And to all collectors who think they know what they are doing when it comes to restoration. YOU DON’T! Keep your hands off the prints.
For example; Just the introduction of water changes the ph in colourants which will mean a long term change of the hues, in some colours like certain blues and purples this dramatic change comes immediately and will be compounded by time. A specialist restorer have the technical equipment and the knowledge to preform the right procedures. To all amateurs out there why do you think you can restore your prints without a proper education, you don’t preform heart surgery without being a specialist?