Thoughts About Paper Artifacts: Hinging and Paper's Reaction

Currency that has been properly hinged to attach it to its backing. These papers have reacted positively to the localized attention of the hinges.

Generally speaking, paper does not want to be flat: it regularly reacts to environmental changes.  Since it is a hygroscopic material with the ability to accept or shed moisture (humidity), paper can change very easily as environmental conditions change.

Conservators use fine paper hinges to attach a work of art on paper to its backboard.  These hinges are fine-quality Asian papers which are attached with high-grade, archival wheat paste.  The hinge is brushed carefully with the paste and placed at the appropriate area of the work.  It is then dried by cushioning it with a small square of cotton blotter, which is weighted.  The cushioned weight helps the hinge dry flat by wicking the moisture through the blotter.  Adhesive resistant material (Pellon or Reemay) is generally used between the working parts of the paper hinges to keep them from sticking to one another and ensure that they work properly.

Even with all of these careful measures, some hinged areas can have a different appearance than the rest of the paper sheet.  Many papers behave well when hinged; others do not seem to like the localized attention that a damp hinge brings.  Collectors of prints, drawings, and other paper artifacts often learn about these paper phenomena as their holdings grow.  Often, the roll or dimensional changes in a sheet of paper can add interest and assure the viewers that they are looking at an authentic work of art on paper.

~David Chandler, Chief Conservator of Works of Art on Paper, The Chicago Conservation Center