Specchi dotati di memoria. Il restauro di 51 dagherrotipi della Fondazione Alinari per la Fotografia

Abstract The Unique Objects collection from the Alinari Foundation for Photography consists of 2,891 items, from Daguerreotypes to Christoleums. Among them, 51 daguerreotypes, dated between 1845 and 1860, were successfully treated between 2021 and 2022. Because of their complexity and the coexistence of different materials (eg., leather, fabrics, paper, metals, colourants, and varnishes), the treatment was carried out in collaboration between the OPD Paper and Parchment Materials Department and the Goldsmithery Department. The challenging situation was also a pivotal opportunity for the Master students in Conservation (PFP 5 - paper, parchment, photographic, cinematographic, and digital materials). The photographic objects were analyzed with micro- Raman, FT-IR, XRF, and OCT thanks to the collaboration with the OPD scientific laboratory and the CNR-INO Heritage Science group. The results aided in the identification of the materials and the deterioration byproducts. The conservation treatment aimed to stabilize and prevent further deterioration. Dry and solvent cleaning was carried out locally on the plates, cases, and frames. Depending on the state of conservation, the plates were reinserted into the original mounts, with new borosilica glasses. New conservative packages were also designed.