Lamination:

Separation between layers of the original material. Can also describe between layers such as pigment and ground. Other words – lifting & flaking.

Leaching:

e.g. of printing oils

Lifting:

A form of deterioration in which pieces of the original material are partially detached or raised. Other words – laminating, flaking.

Lifting (Paper):

Often at mount/inlay joints.

Local cockling:

Smaller distortions in specific areas, such as corners/joints.

Loose:

Parts that are moving or mobile, but not detached or separated.

Loose or mobile elements / Loosened parts (Organics):

Parts of the object are loose and can move when they should be fixed, often due to deterioration of joints and fittings, or where different materials are joined together. Also loosening of knots in wood.

Loss:

An area where the original material is missing because of damage or deterioration.

Loss/Gap/Incomplete/Missing parts (CGM):

Area where original material is missing because of damage or deterioration; does not have all parts or details, it is partial.

Losses / Holes:

(textiles, skins & leather, basketry & barkcloth). Describe whether there are isolated areas of loss, or extensive – single large area of loss, or network of adjacent small losses. Likely to spread, is material vulnerable to further loss around edges, small fragments minimally attached – or is the damage stable and unlikely to deteriorate further.

Lust removal:

Lustre (Ceramics/ Glass):

Decoration consisting of an extremely thin layer of metal applied, and fired, onto the glaze.

Lux:

Visible light. High lux levels are harmful to artefacts and conservators limit the exposure of light sensitive artworks such as watercolours, by reducing display time and giving them resting time (in the dark).