The objectives of CANS are to improve the knowledge about cans, to develop treatment methodologies respectful of the material authenticity and cultural values of these composite objects and to propose solutions in terms of preventive conservation.
Project short description
Cultural heritage consists in artworks (painting, sculpture…) but also in usual and everyday objects (tools, machines…) sometimes unexpected, such as food preserves. Patented at the early 19th century, cans represent an important technological innovation and one of the symbols of consumer society. They are represented in several museum collections as witness to different time periods and significances. However, their conservation is particularly problematic as severe corrosion phenomena occur due to interaction with environment as well as between the organic content and the metallic sealer.
Link to the blog
Project description and aims
The objectives of CANS are to develop conservation methodologies respectful of the material authenticity and cultural values of these composite objects.
The project includes:
- investigation on the values and functions of cans in our society;
- identification of the principal problems of conservation in different museum collections;
- assessment of the relation between observed degradations, environmental conditions and cans composition (materials used, forms, contents…);
- investigation on the mechanisms involved in the long-term degradation of both containers and contents;
- proposition of preventive conservation methodologies and possible interventions.
Scientific context
CANS project constitutes an interdisciplinary research that brings together ethnologists, food technology experts, conservators-restorers and conservation scientists (corrosion, material sciences). This project will contribute to the discovering of degradation mechanisms and to the set up of preventive conservation strategies of those objects that are actually part of the cultural heritage.
Fundings
Project leaders
Régis Bertholon – main applicant et Laura Brambilla – project leader
Partners
Haute Ecole Arc Conservation-Restauration (main applicant)
Musée d’Ethnographie de Neuchâtel
Niché dans un magnifique parc surplombant la ville, le Musée d’ethnographie de Neuchâtel (MEN) pose un regard critique et original sur les sociétés humaines.
Tribology and Interfacial Chemistry (TIC) group – EPFL
The “TIC” is in charge of teaching and research in the broad area of surface science and technology of materials
Institut des Sciences du vivant – HES-SO Valais
Institut Systèmes industriels – HES-SO Valais
La formation en Systèmes industriels couvre un large spectre de technologies orientées vers l’innovation industrielle : de l’électronique à la digitalisation, de l’automatisation à la robotique, de l’impression 3D à la conception mécanique.
