Display and conservation

[cpe1991]

I have only a small, but fast growing, collection and am wondering how to display it. There is a dilemma of leaving the sets on view and preserving colour against bleaching by light and exposure to air. In general, I am happy, and indeed want, to have my prize objects looking their age. If they are faded, it is testimony to their being over a 100 years old. So, if a set has been well used and is faded, it doesn’t do any harm to leave it out in the light, and the fading or browning adds to its charm. But, a couple of my ivory sets have spent the last 150 years secure in their boxes so the ivory is a fine white or a deep uniform red. I think I would prefer to leave them covered up and protected against light and oxidation. What do other collectors do? Alan

[knight_knight_zzz]

Hi, Alan of cpe1991land! 🙂 If I type really quickly, maybe I will be the first to respond. In most CCI members' homes, I have observed numerous wall units (glass fronts) and stand alone glass (and metal?) shelving units. When Floyd and Bernice (of Lichess) visited my home (and collection) a few years ago, one of Bernice's comments was that she observed that none of my sets were in any (glass) cabinets, and who and how often did the sets get dusted... At that time, most of my sets were displayed on open wood shelving - and as I recall - in a basement back room. So, I took Bernice's comments as a piece of inadvertent advice, and I have been appreciative and glad since then. I have placed many of my sets behind glass door cabinets. Little if any dusting! Alternative ways to display under glass could be (and I have done this in the past!) under rectangular glass aquariums! I do not spread the sets around the house because my wife is not crazy about that. In fact, she barely tolerates the sets I have in two room: one in the basement, and one on the first floor. I have all of my ivory sets in glass cabinets. In the winter (in Vermont), I place at least one or more glasses or bowls of water inside of each cabinet (depending on the size of the cabinet). I try to keep the R.H. at between 30-40 percent. Supposedly, ideal is about 50 percent, but that is difficult to do, and as the weather gets warmer (and is able to hold more moisture), one generally does NOT want to keep glasses of water in the cabinet. It will act as a catalyst / contributing ingredient for fungal growth. In the winter, limit the use of mechanical humidifiers. Even though 50 percent R.H. is ideal for humans, too much humidity in winter (e.g. N.E. USA) tends to be harmful to interior building components, and of course to some types of chess sets.... If you keep ivory sets in the basement during warm / damp weather, then I suggest either an air conditioner or a dehumidifier. (Do NOT open the basement windows to "air it out" and "ventilate" it during humid daytime weather or damp nighttime weather. Keep the windows closed during those times and run a dehumidifier. Try to keep the humidity below 60 percent (max). 50 percent would be better. I am not all that knowledgeable about bone sets and wood sets. However, I suspect that too dry or too moist is also harmful. Don't display them near heaters, radiators, wood stoves, etc. It is difficult to understand why someone would NOT want to display the sets even if the 150 year old sets are currently perfectly protected (at least from light or handling)... that is, unless one is looking at it primarily or only as investment. I don't know much at all about effects of light on sets. So I will leave that to someone else... Overall, I would say that sets displayed behind glass, rather than on open shelving is better (less dusting, and better able to control humidity.) Hope the above is somehow helpful. John, Vermont.

[knight_knight_zzz]

Alan, PS: I apologize for the lengthy monologue. Old habits die hard. 🙂 John.

[chesspurr]

cpe1991 hi alan, this is an interesting question ,and i often worry about possible things could happen to my sets. i do like the idea of rotation ,so one can have a varied selection out for display. for my lesser sets ,i like to have a few in the open , and a few in cabinets. with my better ones ,all behind cabinets or enclosed in boxes. since i cannot display everything its the only possible way i can do it. our flat ,not being south facing ,has no serious problems with sun light exposure to any sets . i do keep an eye on all sets ,and every so often take them all out for study ,and note even hints of variation to their condition. with regards to moisture issues ,our property is one with high ceilings and regularly heated ,with good old fashioned air flow ... no sealed windows , this seems to prevent funny stuff happening . i have yet to see a single set deteriorate in my collection ,so my only real worry is accidental damage ... yes it happens , but we do have alan to use on these rare occurances. with my best of best sets ,i am wary of constant display ,as the fear of theives is a sure scource of concern ,so i do tend to keep these more secretly ,and only take them out on occasion. again only in glass cabinets for viewing ,and no cabinets are in contact with even a hint of sun light.

[computojon]

Thanks Alan, this is a very pertinent thread. My wife and I were just talking about what to do with a collection that is starting to take over the house, room-by-room... (I love it) We are going to put in glass cases/shelves on all walls of our downstairs study. My wife is also talking about a glass display case.

[cpe1991]

John You say: "It is difficult to understand why someone would NOT want to display the sets even if the 150 year old sets are currently perfectly protected (at least from light or handling)... that is, unless one is looking at it primarily or only as investment." It is just that we are the temporary custodians of this world and its contents for the next generations and we have an obligation to conserve what would otherwise be lost. Museums nowadays go to enormous lengths when displaying objects that have fugitive pigments or affected by air and pollutants to protect them against deterioration. The museum conservators insist on subdued light and use display cases and backing made of conservation grade materials. If a set is of historical importance, then it would be an act of wanton vandalism to display it under conditions where it would deteriorate. If a set is not particularly rare and has suffered the ravages of time and has aged by wear, light, oxidation and wrong humidity, then it doesn’t matter too much how it is displayed. But, if an important set has fortunately been preserved in pristine condition, then we should preserve its glory for future generations. Chesspurr Guy’s approach seems very sensible: avoiding all direct sunlight and rotating them on display. Direct and reflected sunlight is the biggest killer. The rooms in which I display all of my prints and hand-coloured maps on the walls have been fitted with pull down blinds that reflect 95% of sunlight as our house is south facing, and we draw them down when not using them. Alan

[acf1515]

Hi All, Most of my Chess sets are in storage! and I only have one set on display. This is mainly because: 1) We do not have the space to display them 2) My 6 year old daughter and her cousins will damage them 3) My wife puts up with my collection but wont let me display more. Jim

[chesspurr]

acfi515 hi jim bring her to bloomsbury and i will convert her to chess collecting with a passionate sermon. ]:) cpe1991 hi alan one thing that persuaded me to keep some sets in the open was the notion it is the only way patina could have occured, was use of the sets. this is why i also collect boards , and our non smoke free home ,contributes further to the natural look of our antiques. i am wondering about the wisdom of basements more and more ... even in cabinets too... two years ago a lund ivory was sold for way below its value ... it was in a box in the basement and the neglect was there for all to see on the photos. horrible discolourisation ...

[knight_knight_zzz]

Alan of cpe1991: Your subsequent explained reasons for keeping some chess sets "protected" make sense to me! They are good explanations, and I agree! You are welcome for the time and information I tried to seriously offer to you in direct response to your request for information/advice. I see that you indeed apparently appreciate(d) ALL of it, rather than just focus on the one (ONE) 1 questionably critical comment/question. (A little appropriate sarcasm and irritation here, on my part, in case you miss it!) Will you and I ever reconnect, assuming there was a connection sometime in the past? I do wish to reconnect. But if you want persistent and serious sparring, you may have chosen a good opponent! Now, all you have to occasionally say is "thank you", knight_knight_zzz. Are you man or knight enough to say that? :-) John, Vermont.

[dancing_with_volves]

I use a single open wooden shelf for my chess sets, chess collecting books and a bottle of good cognac. The composition has some inner harmony 🙂 The self is right by the side of my computer table so I see them most of the time when I am at home. Speaking about rotation, I sometimes feel that a set that I liked to watch before did not give me the jolt of joy any more. This usually ends with a new listing at eBay. But there are some sets or pieces which I will most probably always love to look at.

[gevork6]

I display my sets in glass curio cabinets, I think I have 24 of them now....I purchased most from JC Penny.....I put a couple of containers of water in each cabinet.........all my collection is in the basement.....I think it's important to keep it out of the rest of the house.....non-collectors may be shocked to see such unusual displays in the main living spaces....you don't want people to think you are an eccentric nut even if you are....at least not right off the bat..........aa P.S. I also purchased a beautiful round curio to house among other things my mini Viz table and ivory pieces....it displays splendidly in the round curio....the classics STAR TREK set also displays fantastically in the round curio....like it was made for it..........

[chessspy]

Hi, Art, Well,it seems I do have more sets than you after all, and i'm not even a collector! ;) I keep mine in plastic containers in the workshop, awaiting the day I retire! Regards Alan D.

[computojon]

I think Art means he has 24 display cases, rather than 24 sets... if I recall correctly, Art has about 600 sets.

[lichess]

I have had the good fortune to view a large number of CCI members chess collections. I am amazed at the variety of methods of display. One member keeps sets in boxes under the bed, another has them beautifully displayed in an old "bomb shelter" in the basement of his home. Another builds a new building whenever he runs out of space for his display. The varied methods of display compete with the varied types of collections. From antique, to new plastic, to playing sets only, to figural sets and on to my own approach which is "I have yet to see a chess set that I did not like". What is most enjoyable is the diversity in collecting, the variations in display and the enjoyment of sharing our collecting experiences. Floyd Lichess@aol.lcom

[chessspy]

Hi, Floyd, I have on several occasions had the pleasure of seeing the collection of a certain very private north London collector , who , before he had his house altered would cram dozens of sets into a space only really fit for one, I have a picture somewhere, I'll look it out and try to remember to take it to the next sale you can attend. Regards Alan D.