The VariGuard business unit of Research Frontiers has announced that its SPD-Smart technology is being used to protect the historic Treaty of Paris and the Denver Diorama from damaging visible light exposure.
Research Frontiers’ VariGuard business unit announced that its SPD-Smart technology is being used to protect the historic Treaty of Paris and the Denver Diorama from damaging visible light exposure.
The Treaty of Paris, a featured object of a new exhibition by the Bostonian Society entitled “1763: A Revolutionary Peace”, is showcased in a display case that uses VariGuard technology. The case remains in its light-blocking and most protective state until a museum visitor wants to view the Treaty, at which time it instantly becomes transparent. The exhibition takes place through October 2013 at the Old State House in Boston, Massachusetts and commemorates the Treaty’s 250th anniversary and the 300th anniversary of the Old State House.
The Treaty of Paris marked the conclusion of the Seven Years War. This is the first time that Britain’s original signed copy is being seen on the North America continent. The risk of UV and visible damage to this artifact was greatly reduced by housing this artifact in a display case using VariGuard technology.
A “tent” made of glass with VariGuard technology protects the famous Denver Diorama by minimizing the harmful impact of UV and visible light. The large diorama is a 1930s-era public works project featured at the History Colorado Center in Denver, Colorado that was built as an exact replica of Denver as a pioneer town. It depicts Denver circa 1860 with tiny details of its streets and buildings. Because photography was still uncommon in the early 1860s, especially on the frontier, the diorama represents the best visual representation of the city of Denver at that time.
Seth Van Voorhees, head of the VariGuard business unit of Research Frontiers, commented: “Excessive light-exposure is a leading cause of irreversible damage to works on paper, textiles, watercolours and other objects. Today’s announcement highlights the unmatched protection that VariGuard technology provides to light-sensitive artifacts such as the Treaty of Paris and the Denver Diorama. VariGuard provides the world’s first and only display panels that limit an artifact’s light-exposure to when the artifact is being viewed. This offers unequalled protection for light-sensitive artifacts by substantially reducing overall visible light lux-hour exposure up to 95% when compared to conventional display cases or picture frames.”