LAUSR

Abstract Crizzling is an alteration pathology of non-equilibrated glasses that can produce a fast surface alteration. The Royal Palace of Madrid and the Technological Museum of Glass (Segovia) preserved pieces with incipient crizzling produced by the Spanish Royal Glass Factory in the first decades of the 19th century. The objective of this study was to assess the environmental conditions in both collections to enhance their preservation conditions and to identify possible pollutants that can accelerate their alteration. Both collections presented suitable thermohygrometric conditions for general collection; however, it was observed that illumination induces humidity fluctuations inside the cabinets. Passive samplers detected a high concentration of formic acid in some locations, mainly related to the presence of wood furniture. In these locations, glass pieces showed a high surface hygroscopicity (pH 8) and a high concentration of K+- and COOH− ions.