Conserving outside the lines

[Dennis Piechota]

As a kid I liked breaking the rules. Dragging my crayon outside the lines of my coloring book taught me the value of lines.

So later, much much later, last month actually, a student dropped my black CCI mug breaking its handle in five places. I share my collection of mugs with the students in our department when I sponsor, once a week or so, "T@3" (Tea at 3PM). It's an opportunity to take a break together and the students really like the cookies. 

I thought no one wants to hold a hot mug by a mended handle. So I threw the CCI mug out. Then I thought what if I tried to conserve it just to impart confidence in the holder by drawing attention to the strength of the mends. I realized this would be 'conserving outside the lines.' And I thought what would that be like? What would it be like to experience that which is never done?

So I made intentionally ugly and obvious mends. The mends said, "Forget about its old identity; This black mug is now The Super-Mended mug!" And at our teas it is once again popular.

Seeing such a happy ending I grabbed my beloved "La Vache Qui Rit mug", the one that broke years ago and I couldn't throw out, and I did it again!

For good reason we try to avoid changing the identity of those things we conserve. Sometimes, for me anyway, it helps to experience why.

Dennis

Dennis Piechota

Archaeological Conservator

Fiske Center for Archaeological Research
UMass Boston
Office: 617-287-6829

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an Alternative Conservation Discussion