"To keep humidity at good levels, Grieb and his colleagues place saturated solutions of water and magnesium chloride inside the cases: salts. They have been doing so for decades. Now other institutions are taking an interest in Coburg's uncommon conservation techniques. At a time when museums globally are under pressure to reduce their environmental footprints and cut costs, a cheap, effective conservation method is appealing. New research shows that salts may fit the bill, Grieb says."
"Objects can swell and shrink in relationship to the changing humidity of surrounding air. Methods of setting ideal relative humidity today often rely on electric air conditioning or granulated silica gel: souped-up, larger versions of the sachets labeled "do not eat" that keep consumer parcels dry. Salt solutions use a different chemical pathway but can achieve the same goal. They are cheap and, in some ways, easier to care for than silica."
Conservators at Veste Coburg use saturated salt solutions, such as magnesium chloride, inside display cases to maintain stable relative humidity for irreplaceable glass objects. The salts control moisture without electricity, providing a low‑maintenance, fail‑safe environment that reduces energy use and fire risk. Salt solutions can be cheaper and easier to manage than silica gel and more sustainable than electric air conditioning. They also absorb trace pollutants like formaldehyde and acetic acid. Museums under pressure to cut costs and environmental footprints are increasingly interested in these methods, and conservators and scientists have examined their effectiveness.
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