Designs for lighting selected art objects in the interior of Chinqua-Penn Plantation in North Carolina

Many older homes and buildings containing objects of interest which have been opened to the public are inadequately lighted. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of accent lighting on displays and to provide a basis for further application of the lighting design methods in the field of restoration and preservation. The purpose of the study was threefold: (l) to identify types of lighting and lighting apparatus available that might be used to focus on areas of interest in an existing building, (2) to develop possible installations that will fit into the setting of existing structures and will not interfere with the architecture, and (3) to present solutions that would be applicable to older buildings for lighting various types of wall, floor and surface objects. Chinqua-Penn Plantation House near Reidsville, North Carolina was used as the site for this experiment in lighting, Photographs and diagrams were used to illustrate the varying effects which were achieved from the lighting installation. Lighting must be carefully applied to enhance the appearance of art objects and to create a focus of interest in a particular area. Violations of normal standards of good seeing and risk of injury to objects must be avoided. The light source, the viewer and the illuminated object form a triangular relationship which must be considered in all lighting design problems