Learn about products which help to make your framed artwork look good and preserves it over time
This page covers conservation products and materials relevant to framing that are archival standard. 

Museum Glass - Anti Reflection & UV Protection for your artwork
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Groglass® is based in Riga in Latvia and is one of the world’s leading developers and manufacturers of anti-reflective and other high-performance coatings on glass and acrylic for various industries and users - one of them being art glass for picture framing.

They have a range of five art glass products for picture framing which perform to different specifications:
  • four eliminate reflection
  • three provide extreme clarity for the artwork
  • four provides two alternative grades of UV protection
  • one is shatter resistant
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As always artwork still needs to be hung avoid exposure to 
  • direct sunlight
  • excessive heat
  • humidity

​Note that for the glass to be effective, it needs to be cleaned with an ammonia free cleaner and a microfibre cloth.
Picture
Note the total lack of reflection on the frame nearest the light from the gallery's window on to the street (Tulipa by Fiona Strickland at Jonathan Cooper's Park Walk Gallery)

Why I like and recommend this glass
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This is product review comes from the perspective of being a visitor to an exhibition.

I was very impressed by the glass and the framing used for Fona Strickland's exhibition of Tulipa (at Jonathan Cooper Gallery September 2020). So much so that I turned round one of the paintings to see who had framed it and what was the glass used.

Hence this review of this impressive product!
  • ​It was as if there were no glass.
  • The colours read true.
  • It was easy to see the extremely detailed painting technique within the paintings - with the aid of a magnifier. ​

It's a huge pleasure for me to be able to see the love and care which somebody has employed when creating a painting - without any reflections - and also to see that paintings which sell for several thousand pounds using glazing which is a quality product.

I'm sure it is not cheap - but it's high quality conservation glazing for high quality artwork.
Picture
Label on the rear of each painting in the exhibition
Note the work was framed by Frameworks in Edinburgh - see the List of Recommended Framers for more details


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Product Review: ​Renaissance micro-crystalline wax polish
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Summary

A refined wax polish designed and formulated by the British Museum for the long term conservation and protection of museum exhibits.

This product is now a universally respected standard conservation material because of its high quality and wide scope for use.
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Suitable for: Designed to protects items in museums. Freshens colours and imparts soft sheen. Protects surfaces eg paintings, metals, ivory, marble, metals, leather.

Highlights:
  • A high quality product researched, designed and used by the British Museum
  • Used by conservation framers
  • very easy to use and produces a soft sheen on wood

Think Again?
  • Finding this product in shops is not easy. (Try online as an alternative)
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Picture
The polish is available in three sizes
This review was previously published as 
​Product Review - Renaissance micro-crystalline wax polish on Making A Mark Reviews on 18 May 2009.

Why I like and recommend this product

When I started using natural wood frames for my artwork, I wanted to find a wax polish which would protect the frame while not staining it or damaging it in any way. Plus I really did NOT want any sort of 'high gloss' sheen.

I came across Renaissance Micro-crystalline wax polish entirely by accident while browsing in Cornelissen's. However its label immediately suggested that this was the sort of product I'd been looking for. When I tried it out it did exactly what I wanted and I'm very pleased with it. I'd liken it to the very best face cream. You only need a small dab, it spreads wonderfully well, absorbs into the wood brilliantly, buffs up nicely and generally makes everything look a lot better!

What I didn't realise is that it had been created by conservation technicians in the British Museum research laboratories in response to concerns about commercial waxes. Apparently the commercial waxes - based on beeswax and carnuba wax contained acids which spoilt finishes over time (in accelerated ageing tests).

​The product was developed in the 1950s and has been made since 1968 by London based firm Picreator who produce a variety of materials for professional conservation and restoration.
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Technical details
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Used by restoration specialists to revive and protect furniture, leather, paintings, metals etc. Freshens colours, imparts soft sheen. Very long shelf life (approx. 20 years) as long as it is
not exposed to heat.
Cornelissen - Gilding and restoration materials
Product: Renaissance Micro-Crystalline Wax Polish

Technical Details: A refined micro-crystalline wax with no acid component

​Manufacturer / Distributor: Picreator Enterprises Ltd

Sizes: The product is made in three sizes (all of which are available in trade quantities from the manufacturer Picreator):
  • a 3 litre can - suitable for large scale usage only by a museum or trade user, frame shop, conservators and finishers
  • 200 ml can - targeted at the general market and or domestic user
  • 65 ml can (2.28 fluid oz) - this is the trial or gift size and is the one I bought. It cost me £7.00 but you can order it online for £4.00
Suppliers: Available from
​Renaissance Micro-crystalline wax polish 
Technical details:
  • 200 ml (you can get smaller but this size  is much better value and it does last 20 years!)
  • Acid neutral, water and alcohol resistant
BUY THIS WAX
Rated an average of
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars by 152 customer reviews (UK)
  • ​​4.7 out of 5 stars by 970 customer reviews (USA)
Renaissance Wax 200ml from Amazon.com