Matting and Framing

Sue Bove, paper conservator at the New York State Archives, discusses matting and framing.

Video Key Points

• Framing can be looked at as permanent storage for a single, treasured item. Therefore you should choose the highest quality materials possible for framing. Good quality mat board - rag mat board, or purified wood pulp board - is essential to prevent damage to the item over time. A reputable framer will have a variety of options available, and will explain them all clearly.
• However, do not display your framed items permanently or they will fade as a result of prolonged exposure. Frame facsimiles instead or rotate your framed items periodically.
• Ask your framer to use hinges made of Japanese paper adhered with wheat starch paste adhesive, to attach the item to the mat.
• The glazing may be acrylic, which is lighter in weight. It may also be glass, which is heavier but creates no static and is suitable for media that are crumbly or powdery such as pastel or charcoal.
• Use acrylic or glass that filters out ultraviolet light in order to remove the most harmful component of the spectrum.