How an old conservation technique involving salts is winning over museums

Reviving an Old Conservation Technique

Research has shown that a centuries-old method using salts, employed in a German castle, is a cost-effective and efficient way to conserve artifacts, offering advantages over traditional methods like silica and air-conditioning.

A technique used in Veste Coburg, an 800-year-old castle in northeastern Bavaria, involves placing saturated solutions of water and magnesium chloride inside display cases to maintain optimal humidity levels.

Salt’s cure: a Baroque example of “sick” glass, which can be remedied with saturated salt solutions

Conservator Heiner Grieb and his team have been using this method for decades, and now other institutions are taking notice of Coburg’s unconventional conservation techniques.

The method uses common salts, like those used in making gingerbread or tofu, mixed with water to create a saturated solution.
This solution helps to protect priceless treasures from damage caused by humidity fluctuations.

Author's summary: An old conservation technique using salts is gaining popularity among museums.

The Art Newspaper — 2025-10-31

Reviving an Old Conservation Technique

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