Coping with Biological Growth on Stone Heritage Objects: Methods, Products, Applications, and Perspectives

"Daniela Pinna is a reputable biologist with an extensive practice in the field of conservation of cultural heritage. . . The book is a very detailled state of the art, but it contains also a personal perspective about the addressed topics, helping the reader to better move among these often complex subjects. . . . It analyzes this topic under the scientific point of view . . . but also tackles the practical issues connected with biodeterioration, its occurrences, consequences, and possible remediation. . . .The book is easy to read, [and] can be used as a consulting manual for conservation scientists searching for identifying problems, their causes, and solutions, as well as for practitioners searching for a feasible solutions to the problem at hand. . . . Should be a reference on the shelf of any conservation scientist and conservator-restorer working in the field of cultural heritage." —From the Foreword by José Delgado Rodrigues, Geologist, Former Principal Research Officer LNEC; Consultant in Stone Conservation, Lisbon, Portugal “An outstanding addition . . . . There are several points that make this book unique: first, the care taken in properly defining terms such as biodeterioration and biodegradation that are often misapplied; second, the logical organization within each chapter that makes it easy to read and follow, even for those unfamiliar with these challenges; and third, the excellent Appendix that brings together so much information about products, brands, chemicals, etc. in an organized fashion. . . . Finally, the drawings, photographs and examples selected to illustrate the points discussed in the chapters are really remarkable.” —A. Elena Charola, PhD, Research Scientist, Museum Conservation Institute, Smithsonian Institution “A must for everybody working on conservation of stone heritage objects, including applied scientists of different areas and conservators, restorers and governative superintendents as well as architects, art historians, archeologists. First, because it is pleasant, clear and easy to read and gives an excellent updated summary on researches done by several authors (463 references) on the biology applied to works of art. The descriptive parts are accompanied by a good choice of pictures that render easy to understand the concepts. In her book, Daniela Pinna covers the most fundamental topics important to know when working in the field of conservation of cultural heritage made by stone. . . . Very useful not only for biologists but also for scholars of other disciplines because gives basic knowledge on the macro- and microorganisms biology, their ecological requirement, biodeterioration patterns, and on [what] not-to-do when dealing with living organisms. . . . Can be used as a general guide for everybody and especially for the persons in charge of the conservation of cultural heritage stone objects/monuments and archeological areas. After reading this book, the importance of the involvement in cultural heritage conservation of expert biologists in a multi-disciplinary network appears clear.” — Journal of Cultural Heritage, review by Clara Urzì, Department of Chem. Biol. Pharm. and Environ. Sciences, University of Messina, Italy “Comprehensive in its scope, well-structured and written, and thoroughly referenced in footnotes and appendices, this volume is AN INDISPENSABLE TEXTBOOK FOR MATERIALS CONSERVATION EDUCATORS AND A WELL-WRITTEN, INFORMATIVE HANDS-ON TOOL FOR PRACTITIONERS seeking to hold back the inexorable and never-ending assault of the biological world on stone and masonry. . . . Pinna’s authoritative volume is intended as a reference tool . . . As conservators, the job before us is to prevent and reverse the effects of these processes on heritage objects. The book aims to assist in that task by compiling and evaluating the last fifteen years of conservation literature on biodeterioration and its mitigation. . . . The book easily translates to all branches of heritage that are impacted adversely by the presence of bio-growth. . . . Well structured, and [the] information is easy to access . . . This essential reference tool also includes many interesting bits of information that make the book ENJOYABLY READABLE . . . ” —The International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, Review by Rosa Lowinger To read the full review: https://www.iiconservation.org/content/book-review-coping-biological-growth-stone-heritage-objects-methods-products-applications “Well written and well organized, and it contains specific and practical information . . . . An invaluable book for any serious preservation practitioner who is frequently dealing with nature’s insistence on slowly turning man’s stone creations back into their more elemental natural components. . . . So valuable [because] it synthesizes over 450 studies on subjects of biodeterioration from around the world. . . . The book is peppered with excellent examples from around the world of fragile and ancient cultural relics . . . that have been subjected to massive biological infestation.” —APT Bulletin: The Journal of Preservation Technology, review by Peter Wollenberg, Wollenberg Building Conservation, LLC, St. Louis, Missouri "Daniela Pinna is a reputable biologist with an extensive practice in the field of conservation of cultural heritage. . . The book is a very detailled state of the art, but it contains also a personal perspective about the addressed topics, helping the reader to better move among these often complex subjects. . . . It analyzes this topic under the scientific point of view . . . but also tackles the practical issues connected with biodeterioration, its occurrences, consequences, and possible remediation. . . .The book is easy to read, [and] can be used as a consulting manual for conservation scientists searching for identifying problems, their causes, and solutions, as well as for practitioners searching for a feasible solutions to the problem at hand. . . . Should be a reference on the shelf of any conservation scientist and conservator-restorer working in the field of cultural heritage." —From the Foreword by José Delgado Rodrigues, Geologist, Former Principal Research Officer LNEC; Consultant in Stone Conservation, Lisbon, Portugal "An outstanding addition . . . . There are several points that make this book unique: first, the care taken in properly defining terms such as biodeterioration and biodegradation that are often misapplied; second, the logical organization within each chapter that makes it easy to read and follow, even for those unfamiliar with these challenges; and third, the excellent Appendix that brings together so much information about products, brands, chemicals, etc. in an organized fashion. . . . Finally, the drawings, photographs and examples selected to illustrate the points discussed in the chapters are really remarkable." —A. Elena Charola, PhD, Research Scientist, Museum Conservation Institute, Smithsonian Institution “An outstanding addition . . . . There are several points that make this book unique: first, the care taken in properly defining terms such as biodeterioration and biodegradation that are often misapplied; second, the logical organization within each chapter that makes it easy to read and follow, even for those unfamiliar with these challenges; and third, the excellent Appendix that brings together so much information about products, brands, chemicals, etc. in an organized fashion. . . . Finally, the drawings, photographs and examples selected to illustrate the points discussed in the chapters are really remarkable.” —A. Elena Charola, PhD, Research Scientist, Museum Conservation Institute, Smithsonian Institution “A must for everybody working on conservation of stone heritage objects, including applied scientists of different areas and conservators, restorers and governative superintendents as well as architects, art historians, archeologists. First, because it is pleasant, clear and easy to read and gives an excellent updated summary on researches done by several authors (463 references) on the biology applied to works of art. The descriptive parts are accompanied by a good choice of pictures that render easy to understand the concepts. In her book, Daniela Pinna covers the most fundamental topics important to know when working in the field of conservation of cultural heritage made by stone. . . . Very useful not only for biologists but also for scholars of other disciplines because gives basic knowledge on the macro- and microorganisms biology, their ecological requirement, biodeterioration patterns, and on [what] not-to-do when dealing with living organisms. . . . Can be used as a general guide for everybody and especially for the persons in charge of the conservation of cultural heritage stone objects/monuments and archeological areas. After reading this book, the importance of the involvement in cultural heritage conservation of expert biologists in a multi-disciplinary network appears clear.” — Journal of Cultural Heritage, review by Clara Urzì, Department of Chem. Biol. Pharm. and Environ. Sciences, University of Messina, Italy “Comprehensive in its scope, well-structured and written, and thoroughly referenced in footnotes and appendices, this volume is AN INDISPENSABLE TEXTBOOK FOR MATERIALS CONSERVATION EDUCATORS AND A WELL-WRITTEN, INFORMATIVE HANDS-ON TOOL FOR PRACTITIONERS seeking to hold back the inexorable and never-ending assault of the biological world on stone and masonry. . . . Pinna’s authoritative volume is intended as a reference tool . . . As conservators, the job before us is to prevent and reverse the effects of these processes on heritage objects. The book aims to assist in that task by compiling and evaluating the last fifteen years of conservation literature on biodeterioration and its mitigation. . . . The book easily translates to all branches of heritage that are impacted adversely by the presence of bio-growth. . . . Well structured, and [the] information is easy to access . . . This essential reference tool also includes many interesting bits of information that make the book ENJOYABLY READABLE . . . ” —The International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, Review by Rosa Lowinger To read the full review: https://www.iiconservation.org/content/book-review-coping-biological-growth-stone-heritage-objects-methods-products-applications