Do Display Cabinets Protect Collectables From Fading? UV Transmission Test

Glass fronted display cabinets protect collectables from dust and handling far more effectively than they protect them from fading, according to a new materials led analysis published by Furniture in Fashion. The report explains that ordinary glass absorbs the shortest ultraviolet wavelengths but passes much of the longer wave ultraviolet and all visible light, and that visible light fades sensitive dyes and pigments in its own right. It argues that where a cabinet stands in a British home matters far more than the specification of its glass, because cumulative exposure over years is what causes irreversible colour loss. The analysis identifies textiles, paper, photographs and dyed plastics as the materials most at risk, notes that heat build up inside a sunlit cabinet is a separate and often overlooked hazard to adhesives and resins, and recommends treating the window rather than the furniture where a room has strong daylight....