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

[ne0romantic]

My current setup:

The big cabinet, glass shelves, mirrored back, lit top, space for the biggest sets I have on display, though certainly if I wanted to display my Mexican "monsters" they wouldn't fit here.

A few pictures of the inside of cabinet basically amount to showing off my collection more than talking about my storage setup, but it does look nice displayed this way, I think.  These shelves give you a lot of space for variety how to show a set.  Some I have 1 set per shelf, some 2, some I have arranged in piece order seperated by color, some mixed up different ways.  The figural set on the bottom of this picture just came back from repair.  It is a little small to have a whole shelf to itself, but when I had it on half a shelf I though it looked too crowded and it's one of my best sets.

That's the last of the ones in the cabinet.

Here are a few Coffeehouse sets in 1/18 car display cases.  These cases are a little bigger than my others, but they're my least favorites as the opaque bottom makes stacking for display sub-optimal (even though they are made to be stacked.)  I have two more of them my dad is making new bottoms for so they'll be tall enough to fit my Mexican bone set which is *just* too tall to fit in these normally.  I'm not sure where I'll put them when they're ready, but that's another story.

Here are a few better auto display cases for 1/16 scale cars. The back is mirrored and the clear shelves and sides make the case unoptrusive.  The pieces appear "suspended in air."  You can get more sets in less space this way and I don't think they look too crowded.  That's a matter of opinion of course.  These chambers are slightly smaller than the previous 1/16 scale car cases, so I think there's some variation there.  I was able to squeeze a whole set into two of these chambers and maybe Guy would think that was a bad idea, but I think it looks alright.

And here is a bigger version of the same case.  I don't figure the metal set on top needs much protection.  We're also reaching the lowest end sets I have displayed here.  Still there's kind of theme to this case, the Lewis set going with the Charlemagne set, and then two metal sets.  I have a new Dolfi set, and after all this rearranging getting everything looking nice I have no where to put it.  Sure I should put it in this case and "kick out" one of the resin sets, but I feel like they "go" together... decisions decisions.

Ty

[chesspurr]

Ty,

Approval ? 😄

One one open shelf ( no glass ) approx  6 ft long, I have some 6 sets displayed.

No humidifier or De one, no water, ziltch conservation.

The moisture rises from the late 19th century foundations and the wooden floors. It also flows through the original sash windows, and my Cats hop around with threathening menace.

Having a few three old display cabinets safeguards some sets, but the Chessmen are very cramped.

One Cabinet 4 x 4 ft holds 23 sets .

About 40% of my sets are on display, but almost no travel sets, nor boards .

So I am possibly just about the worst chess collector to give any advice, or judgement  on these matters of conservation, and Preservation.

Pss,

Smoking adds to the Patination of wooden sets, and Plastics appear to love it !

]:).

For John,

Pianos make superb display areas ! :^O

-- Edited by chesspurr at 11/24/2011 1:50 AM PST

[corptaxman]

Once again in recent days I'm 'forced'  to admit that I am of Guy's school! Three sets/boards out for play; about 12 others on display on an open corner unit - the rest are packed away but change place fairly regularly. I doubt I could get away with having any more visible around the house!

I too live in an old house - built of permeable granite straight onto the ground, with no damp-proof course. My sets don't seem to suffer any problems over humidity - that I'm aware of, anyway!  

I'm convinced, however, that my cat does move pieces overnight on the boards in play - things often look different overnight!

[ne0romantic]

You two and your cats!  Lol.

Guy, talking about your disapproving of chessmen too close together I was remembering how you in particular dissaprove when chess boards are too small for the pieces.  I figured this would extend to tight spaced displays.

I was talking with a friend about concerns of cat ownership in my place a while back.  He told me the great thing about a cat is they will *makes gesture on chessboard with fingers* walk among these carefully without knocking over the pieces.  I suspect he was giving the felines too much credit... I mean I imagine they would walk with feline grace... but then somtimes they would leap, and knock everything over.  Also my bigger worry is the cat hair would be a problem for uncovered sets.  Am I wrong?

-- Edited by ne0romantic at 11/24/2011 9:04 PM PST

[corptaxman]

Our cat (singular, these days), a Siamese, can indeed move through almost anything without distrubing it - when she cares to! However, she does also indulge in nudging things with her paw.

Chessmen too close - I was 'accused' of that in one posing on Picasa. Sometimes, however, I think it helps to emphasize the bulk of pieces and looks good (but it's not for playing - I entirely agree that you need a decent space then).

[chesspurr]

Moring Ty,

There is some risk to my decision in leaving out so many collectble sets in the open, as we have two " moggies " , a moggie meaning a mixture of genes from varied romantic encounters, built up over history .]:)

The two Cats are over a year old and are a constant menace, but having no comfort creatures, would cost me my Lady, and desirable as my chess collection is, such a situation cannot be allowed to happen, so it is a compromise .

Some time ago I figured that even if  I lost a set or two, i might get additional pleasure at actually being able to see and touch alot more of my sets. The alternative being hiding a good many chessmen, away from view.

Low cost modern display cabinets might solve part of my problem, but such pieces of furniture would clash with the look of our abode.

It also gives me the opportunity to test something that has intrigued me, since this thread was created.

Why is it that so many Antique shops over here have collectables lying about gathering dust in their shops ? No water glasses, no special devices, it is like as if the shop could be a home, so I made the very deliberate and bold decision to test the waters.

My parents did exactly the same thing, in identical conditions, old house, no sealed windows ( double glazing as we say here ) minimal central heating use etc.

Clearly I would not do this with my very best sets, but if I could then I certainly would.

Another reason why for example I have my little octi Drueke set on display, is that if we ever have visitors to our home, the idea of only showing my best sets seems to contradict my beliefs.

It might give a chance for some guest to mention a set for nostalgic reasons, as either they or a friend of theirs might have the same one.

None too many will have a Canton figural or a Jaques Ivory.

Looking at me now as I type is a mass produced Lardy knock off set, ( I have three of them )  and whilst it may leave some collectors thinking its collectability is pointles, I distinctly recall getting a draw against the reigning Irish chess champion at the Dublin chess club in 1976 with such a set. The board the game was played on was retailed by W W Morgan in the 1870's and is of top notch quality.

The ever lasting memory of that game was that I was a Pawn down, in a Queen ending, and the irony of the board and pieces match up.

I distinctly recall being critical of board size, but being given a gift of a porcelain regence set on a tray, would be very gratefully accepted.:-)

My views on this will probably never change, if only because as a player I loved open positions, with space .

It is a great pity that some lovely sets were made with matching boards, that I believe were too small, and the practice continues today, I suspect it is because the makers are not chess players, but no matter, my views, if it is collected by any one it is a collectable.

If our home was bigger, then every single set I have would be on display, no omissions at all.

[corptaxman]

Association memories have a great deal to do with our 'likings', I think.

I'm in no way a minimalist, and, say, with books, like to have them all jumbled in/on/around bookcases, but find that - for me - too many chess sets on display at once do not have focus (but, as said before, I do change the ones that are visible from time to time). Also, the thought of having to dust off all my sets, and the shelves they stand on, from time to time fills me with horror.

Finally; I've never had anything - chess set or otherwise of any material - damaged by a loose cat - or other-  hair. Come on, now folks, if anyone has a set that delicate...In the main, these are items that were intended to be used, often in relatively rough ways.

-- Edited by corptaxman at 11/25/2011 12:51 AM PST

[chesspurr]

Hi Ty,

I forgot to mention that one year old cats do knock everything over, as they often have duels for territory.

Ours can leap onto a 8 ft window, sit on some 4 inches of wood.

Then look down at you from above.

Even better Foxy can leap onto a door top width less than 2 inches, and God help my durable chessmen when some 8 lbs of Bone and fur make contact.X-(

So provisions are taken, lower cost sets reside in such places and hoovering is hazardous.:-D

The real damage will more often occur when a piece falls off a shelf, or simply out of your hand.

Youth and spirit are to be accepted, just as old age . Our late Rocky never threathened a single set, and he was some 16 lbs in weight.

Dusting is annoying and time consuming, but its a price worth paying by myself anyway.

We have alot more items than simply chessmen at our home, and it is impossible to make everything safe from dusting, so we simply do it on occasion .

For some odd reason unknown to me my computer insists on making sure my postings are in bold lettering ???

[corptaxman]

This subject brings up an interesting question: how many collectors actually play with their sets?  

Not just for internet games in our own homes, but real-life OTB chess play?

 I take a different set or two to my club each time - not just Stauntons, sometimes a different pattern that gets me some strange looks when I suggest we have a game with it: 'Is-he-serious?'-type looks. Sometimes, the 'challenge' is taken up, and then the player is often surprised at how 'nice' it is to use something out of the ordinary.

 Do we do sets a dis-service by locking them away (visible in containers or not) and denying them their intended role in life?

-- Edited by corptaxman at 11/25/2011 9:56 AM PST

[d-baron]

The problem of keeping collectibles - not just chess sets - is a puzzlement.  I don't dust much - time as much as desire - but I don't like dusty objects either.  Plus, I can't think once dust has settled into the minutest of detail that it can easily or totally be removed successfully.  Therefore, I try to keep my collectibles as dustfree as possible.

Cabinet I built just for my small diecast, designed to hold as many of the models in their display cases as possible. I was going to put a glass door on it at a cost of $40-50, but now I think I might stick with using the display case idea.

"Book"shelves I built on our stairway.  I tried screwing acrylic sheets to the shelves to keep out the dust but it makes it difficult to get to my sets whenever I may want.  I thought about converting to glass doors but that would be very expensive.  Again, the idea of using model display cases sounds like a good solution, plus make better use of the space (I could even stack a few more on the top).

Glass case I bought for $20 from an art gallery that was closing.  Great for displaying, but lots of wasted space.  Using display cases may, again, make better use of the space.

It's not like I don't have a lot of chess sets still waiting to be displayed.

Another thing I do to help preserve my chess pieces is: for the plastic pieces, when I first get them I always clean and polish them up with some mild auto spray wax (much easier to use on such small pieces) and for the wood pieces I always clean and polish them with wood polish.  This also helps restore and deepen their color (especially on oxidized plastic).  And since a house is always subject to dust and cooking grease in the air, which over time develops  into a sticky grime on things, the polishing helps keep it from going beyond the surface, making cleaning much easier in the future.  In the long run, I believe this simple step helps preserve my collectibles, their finish and their color, for much longer than if I were not to do it.

[d-baron]

Oh, forgot to mention, in answer to your question, Keith, I do use my sets, certain ones anyway, for play.  I tried using a  new modern plastic set for that purpose, but as I already mentoned elsewhere, I couldn't stand the feel of it and packed it away.  It is surprising what happens when you use some of your collected sets for play.  For some, it quickly becomes apparent that they are either not suitable for play or just turn out to not be so pleasant to use for play.  Others, some of which I even considered to be too cheap to be ideal for play ended up making me fall in love with them all over again because they just look and feel so good in play.

I do have mixed feelings about putting the sets away or packed in display cases.  In some ways I feel like it is the same kind of waste as you see so much of in the auto collecting world where someone has a beautiful, fantastically performing car that is never started never touches the pavement and is trailered everywhere.  It seems like such a waste of such a beautiful machine.  But, it does keep them preserved and in existence for others to see and enjoy.  And in the case of chess sets, if every now and then I can take one out and play a good game of chess with it, that almost seems, in a way, to honor them, their purpose, and their memory.  JMHO for what it's worth.

[ne0romantic]

When I play chess it's generally online so no pieces.  If I play with a real opponent it's often bughouse, so not ever real chess, and I have plastic sets for that, as the pieces need to be able to be slapped around a bit.  I do bring out a good set from time to time on my big chess table and work through positions and study openings with it, but it's usually Staunton or similar, something where I can easily see the game "through the pieces" and not be looking at the pieces but the game.  Mostly I study chess books with my little travel set from my bed, though.  If played more slow chess (which of course I should) I'd probably use some of my more practical sets to do so.  I'm not actually entirely sure some of the more elaborate sets are made for use at all.  I'm of the opinion some chess sets really were made "just to look at."  Being a musician this makes me think of Stratovarious(sp?) and the world's best musical instruments, for which the best preservation is to constantly play them and make sure they're often used.  It isn't the same with chessmen though as frequent use can risk damage.  I wouldn't want to lock my collection away either, of course.  I like the glass and acrylic displays as the sets can be seen and still be safe.

Duncan, it looks to me like your glass display case could use a few more shelves.  I should mention my big display case was altered with the help of my dad to better use the space.  Of course that involved drilling into wood which is relatively easy.  I can't tell what the material holding up your shelves is.  My dad works with the UW so it's easy for him to get glass cut to certain sizes for the shelves.  Not everyone has those resources but the there might be somewhere you can get more glass shelves cut at low expensive if you drill more holes in the case itself to take more shelves or it already has them or something (some cases have holes all over for custom shelf height.)  It looks like it should take about twice as many shelves and hold about twice as many chess sets about the height of the ones you've got in there now... and sure taking the whole thing out and replacing it with stacked acrylic dicast car cases might hold even more chess sets in the same space, but as you've already got the nice case... anyway alterations are another idea beyond just replacing the whole case.

Ty

[knight_knight_zzz]

You DO realize, my friends Duncan and Ty.... that my self-alleged electronically challenged traits - in the face of a busy job as well as myriad year-round household tasks - may all be a front.... and a very poor, old man, excuse) just trying to draw the two of you (and others) closer and closer to my den in Central Vermont.

You know... trying to lure you chess collectors to this Northeastern corner of the USA.... with all of my lies :O?:|;-) about my wonderful (even if I say so myself!) eclectic chess collection.

You DO know/realize...., right..?.. that I DO appreciate -  and thank you - for the postings of your displays (pictures of chess sets and display features and cabinets, etc.).

I also thank Guy and Dan and Robert Van Der, and all of the rest of you for your Picasa Websites, Personal Websites, etc. I think your efforts are great (I say that sincerely).

Thank you to the Co-leaders and Moderator of this group for your emails (even if they have been sporadic and/or remote in time.) 

Thank you for the opportunities and relative freedoms you have given me to express myself.

I also want to thank the likes of the many authors we have and have had among us.... as well as editors.... and owners of "museums" and other related chess collections who have opened their homes to show us their collections (e.g. Jon C, Israel R, Floyd & Bernice S., Irwin and Terri G., etc.)

Thank you for the personal emails you have shared with me. It is understandable how - in this relatively sensitive (and critical) world in which we live - that personal emails are sometimes needed for a variety of reasons.

Each of us may not do exactly what others would like for us to do.... or to say exactly what others would like to hear from us. But at least this provides one of several venues in which to connect with the world.

The topic of "chess" and "chess sets" is undoubtedly and understandably our focus and common "passion" - and some say obsession. But if it were not for the overall and overwhelming desire to "share" - each in our own way - well, I guess we would be less human than we are. That is, the "things" and thought-provoking ideas and discussions surrounding chess and chess sets is/can be the "topic". But it is the sharing and intereracting that is the "gravy on the turkey".... (well, at least on this turkey talkin' right here!) 😉

And so, it is with this (hopeful) chuckle, and perhaps with a tad of basic willingness to share a part of myself as well as an occasional reference to chess and chess sets (imagine that!) .... that I wish you all a great holiday season of sharing... each, in our own unique way..!

John, Vt.   

[knight_knight_zzz]

All,

In a short time, I will be posting a message about a little experiment I am doing about humidity in my house and glass display cabinets. I will also be talking a little bit about humidity (or R.H.), as has been mentioned in this / other threads.

I will let you know when you can let go of your collective breath, ok?

😉

John.

[knight_knight_zzz]

Well, all... (mainly those of you awaiting, with baited breath, - the results of my long overdue results of my little, actually non-rigorous and frankly, non-scientific experiment.) We must start this year out right.... right? Hmmmm... maybe a tad too late for that.... given a fool's very recent languishing and lamenting cries...

 Seriously, though....

 There had been some discussiion in the past (and I believe even recently) as to whether there is a need to place water in display cabinets to help with potentially reducing or avoiding cracks in ivory, etc.

 My little experiment does not (and will not) prove one way or another about that above discussion. However, it might give a clue to humidity levels within various display and room situations...

 This is what I did for a few weeks:

 Preliminary information:

 I do not have a house humidification system (which sometimes exists in northern climates where outside and inside air can, "relatively speaking" be rather dry.

 I do have a newly purchased, "ultrasonic", humidifier - but I have not as yet used it in my house this winter. I might use it for my guest room which also has a baby grand piano. (Hey, just to let you know... I live in a modest 3 bedroom ranch house - somewhat smaller than the "Long Island Chess Museum.)

 1.) (As I have nearly always done for the past 10+ years) a few weeks ago, I placed between 1 and 4 small glasses of water in each of my large and small display cabinets that contain ivory chess sets. The # of water containers depended on the size of the glass cabinet and overall number of sets within the cabinet.

 2.) I purchased several battery-operated temperature - hygrometer devices and checked each one against the other. There seems to be about 1 - 2% difference (at most) in humidity between each device. This was regardless of exactly where I placed (side by side) the devices within my house (and even during the experiment duration, within the closed glass display cabinets.

 3.) I placed one of the devices in each of my glass display cabinets.... changing the exact placement, over time, within the display cabinet.

 4.) I also, at various and myriad times, placed the devices merely in the ambient air within the room and saw what the readings were.

 5.) There were times when I had a device in the room (not in the display cabinet) at the same time I had another device within the display cabinet. (And I even removed water containers for days at a time, and read both. That is, I compared the waterless cabinets reading with the room's ambient reading.)

 6.) While it would have been, I suspect, more of a scientific leaning of an experiment, to record the measurements, I did not. I just tried to recall, over time, my overall findings.

 7.) At various times throughout many days, and over the course of cold outside weather (close to zero F., as well as in the 40's F) I looked at the hygrometer readings many times.

 The following results were obtained:

 There was between an approximately 5 - 12 % difference between what the reading of the hygrometer was when the device was in a closed ("watered") display cabinet as compared with a device outside of the display cabinets. The difference was usually about 7 - 10%.

 There was essentially the same difference (not exactly the same, but very close) in readings between times when I had filled water containers within the display cabinets and times when I did not have filled water containers in the display cabinets.

 Now, why MIGHT all this be potentially important?

 I believe there had been some discussion - in the past and somewhere in the ebay discussion threads - whether or not placing water in a display cabinet makes a difference as to how much humidity is in the air of the display cabinet.

 There had also been some discussion as to whether or not display cabinets are airtight.... and if not, to what degree they help hold in the moisture which has supposedly evaporated from the water container(s)

 My several (4) display cabinets I have for my ivory sets (yes.... oink!) seem to not be "airtight", but they do close relatively firmly. How do I know they are not absolutely "airtight? Because I can farily easily either place a sheet of paper between the door and the display case frame - or I can see a slight slit.

 Generally speaking, the humidity within my main (I have only two chess rooms) chess room, which holds my ivory chess sets ranged, over time, between about 38 and 55 % thus far. This was also true for the same period of time (over the 3 weeks) for the inside of display cases when I did not have water containers within those display cases. The room (and cabinet) temperatures tended to be very close, but overall they varied from about 65 degrees F to about 72 degrees F.

 In summary, I do believe that placing small glass(es) of water in a display case makes a significant difference as to the humidity within the display cabinets when the cabinets are closed.

 Of course, and for now, I will not try to debate as to whether such amounts of humidity I recently found from my little "experiment" are actually helpful (or even harmful). I suspect that a much longer period of time (and perhaps even years?) are needed to make that determination.

 My "experiment", thus far, has shown that with water containers (containing water, of course) are in display cabinets, I can achieve a humidity level of several % points higher (approximately 7 - 10 %)?

 That is, without the water, the display cabinets' humitity levels would be between about 38% and up to the mid 40 % - but even slightly higher if the room humidity was higher. With water containers, the humidity levels within the glass door display cabinets was usually between about 44% and up to about 55%.

 Some more background info:

 I have a hot water baseboard heating system (and the fuel for the system is oil. I also (when the outdoor temperature goes below about 15 degrees F), use my wood stove, which is in the basement; we leave the door (to the basement) stairs open during the winter - especially to allow the warm (hot) stove air rise. I do place a pan of water on that woodstove to help supplement the moisture in the house during winter months.

 Now, I would like to share with you (an embarissingly - I will admit) true story that occurred back about 10-12 years ago:

 I had placed a large Chinese ivory chess set in a (dry, of course) glass aquarium. Within the (apparently airtight? or close to it?) aquarium, I also placed a small glass of water. I refilled the small glass perhaps 3 times - at most - that entire winter. I did not have any moisture / humidity measuring / reading device at that time.

 I am dismayed to have to share with you the results of that long ago apparent over-moisturizing of the air within that glass aquarium (which was placed upside down during the dipslay time). When I finally looked closely at the chess peices by the month of May in our northern climate of Vermont, a slight yet obvious coating of fuzzy mold has begun to grow on the ivory pieces!

 Alas! What was I to do? Well, I immediately, of course, removed the glass of water.... cleaned each piece as best as I could with a dry cloth (my guess is that it was just a surface coating of mold and not penetrated to a deeper place within each piece)..... and then of course, never had it in such a relatively airtight situation again.) For the last several years, it has been in one of my large display cabinets (with more than one container of water during winter months) and it does not appear to have suffered any long term effects - at least to gross examination.

 Now, all... I swear to you that unlike the knight_knight Lamenting posting done earlier today, this posting right here is NOT full of a lot of hot air!

 On a potentially further topic of discussion - perhaps someone might do a little "reserarch" into whether their particular outdoor climate (perhaps such as those in much more - supposedly - damp locations of the world, such as England?) has an effect on whether display (or indoor humidification) is even needed at all...

 I will let several of YOU take the lead in that discussion, ok?

 Have a good New Years day, "y'all"...!

 John, Vermont. PS: After writing this "little" ditty here, I was very tempted to just not post anything here, but rather, to write something with better grammar and clarity, etc. for one of the CCI publications. However I had, I believe, led a number of you to believe I would post something right here.... so.... so be it... And on a further note, congratulations to both recent published CCI magazines. Nice job! And (not to take anything away from our British friend, Jim J.... acf1515)... BUT a special "congrats" is in order for the new editor of the USA CCI Newsletter / magazine...! (Duncan).