Are written proposals for treatment always necessary? How are contracts and release forms used?
THOMPSON: I always do a written proposal. The client should have a clear idea about the exact work to be done, the cost of the treatment, the type of documentation, the costs of insurance and so on. This preliminary communication avoids any later misunderstandings about the conservation treatment. LEISHER: Ethically we are required to do proposals for any treatment. The proposal informs the person responsible for the object of the treatment goal and the treatment techniques and materials to be used. Many times at the museum there is a verbal proposal agreed upon between the curator and the conservator that eventually is written down, documented and entered into the records. SCHAEFER: Often we have a discussion amongst ourselves which amounts to a treatment proposal and then when the work has been completed, a statement of what was done is written up for the files. THOMPSON: In my case, as a private conservator, the word “proposal” implies approval and agreement which comes from the cli
