The conservation of glass antiquities may include several different processes: examination, cleaning, joining, filling or supporting, and cosmetic treatments. It is essential to examine the object carefully before deciding upon the best treatment because, in each case, the strength of the glass will determine the most suitable method of conservation. At the present time the methods used to repair glass are continually being developed with the availability of new materials. Synthetic resins which resemble glass in clarity have greatly improved the aesthetic appearance of repaired glass. According to their properties, these plastics may be used as adhesives, they may be cast into a mold to replace missing areas of glass or, in sheet form, they may provide support for isolated fragments of glass. The success of the restoration depends not only upon the artistic ability of the conservator but, until products are developed specifically for conservation purposes, on the imaginative use of materials that are available on the market today. See also AATA 19-1701.