Posted by John Fiorillo on July 08, 2001 at 16:41:36:
In Reply to: Re: Documenting the fading of a ukiyo-e print posted by Marc Kahn on July 08, 2001 at 13:17:09:
Hello, Marc,
You ask a good question. The print was in a frame with standard glass, not UV glass. What effect that might have had is unknowable at this point, but I would assume that the fading was a little faster without the limited UV glass protection.
Collectors should keep in mind, however, that UV glass protects ONLY against radiant energies in the UV (ultraviolet) range, or below 400 nanometers. ALL the other visible wavelengths of radiant energy (around 400 to 700 nm) will still cause fading, so UV glass may give collectors a false sense of security.
I certainly sympathize with collectors who want to enjoy their ukiyo-e prints by framing and displaying them. The problem is that no matter how you do it, they will fade over time when exposed to light. If a collector must frame a print, archival materials should be used and the length of time on display should be held to a minimum. Try displaying prints in the very darkest areas of your home, and do so only briefly, afterwards storing the print in a dark, dry storage area with relative humidity below 70%. If you own several prints, try what many collectors do, which is to "rotate" the prints between storage and display, putting up one or a few at a time for short periods, then replacing them with others held in storage. If you can, document your collection by taking photos or slides and making notes on their condition, particularly their colors. Fading can creep up on you and over long periods may not be noticeable, which is what happened to the person who owned the print I documented on my web page. If you document your prints at the time of acquisition (this helps for insurance purposes as well), and refer to your documentation over time, you will be more successful in verifying whether your display and storage conditions are harming your prints.
Of course, I personally recommend storing ukiyo-e prints in neutral pH paper folders placed inside archival portfolio cases. Viewing prints from folders is actually for me a greater pleasure than stopping and noticing a framed print on a wall that is 95% of the time hardly ever noticed or carefully viewed. Opening up a paper folder to reveal a print has the effect of a new (or at least newer) experience for me than looking at an all too familiar print that has been up on a wall for months or years.
All collectors should enjoy their prints, but try to protect them as much as possible.
John