May 2015
Whilst the recent museum trainee recruits embark on their year long teaching programme, the Conservation Department have been busy keeping their knowledge up to date, by attending conferences and workshops.
Conservation is a lively and evolving discipline. New techniques, materials and even ethical dilemmas are constantly being introduced, disseminated and discussed. Opportunities to meet up with other conservators, attend conferences or workshops are eagerly snapped up.
This month, four members of the conservation team attended events that either relate to our various specialism’s and interests, or provided new insights into aspects of the profession.
At the beginning of the month, Conservation Technician Alice Forkes, attended the “International Mount Makers Forum (IMF) UK Kick-start Event” hosted by the Natural History Museum in London.
Examples of mounts and current materials being trialed by the conservation department.
The forum was a chance for international members and UK based professionals in the mount making field, to share experiences, knowledge and ideas related to fabrication and production of mounts for an incredible variety of museum objects. Founder members of the IMF discussed the origins of the group, Kevin Smith from Plowden and Smith talked about his involvement with a travelling Tutankhamen exhibition and Roger Murray from the V&A explained his use of innovative products for the mounting of a 17th Century Lobster Tailed Helmet in collaboration with a textile conservator.
It is hoped the UK will become members of the IMF and London will host the next forum event in 2017.
Objects conservator, Jonathan Clark, attended a symposium and practical workshop on “The Care and Conservation of Human Remains”, with a focus on natural mummies at the British Museum.
The symposium and workshop was the result of a project led by organics conservator Barbara Wills and curator Daniel Antoine. Barbara was tasked with conserving over forty naturally mummified individuals from the Forth Nile Cataract Sudan. She shared with us some of the techniques she utilized, which involved the construction of supports and pillows which had to be capable of securing heavy and solid bone whilst being soft and malleable enough to support fragile skin, tendons, hair and internal organs.
Organics conservator Barbara Wills, demonstrating supports for soft tissues, such as tendons and skin, using a mock-up of one of the mummies she worked on.
On the first day, we heard from conservators dealing with the associated material found with the Nilotic mummies, such as vibrant and well preserved textiles. We also heard from conservators dealing with intentionally mummified remains from Chile which were suffering from a mysterious ‘black ooze’. Curator Daniel Antoine gave us an introduction to the incredible technological advancements in C.T scanning that allowed for ‘virtual’ autopsies to be conducted, not only by specialists but by visitors to the ‘Ancient Lives, new discoveries’ exhibition at the British Museum.
On the second day, we got to see the conserved mummies in the stores, which gave us the opportunity to look more closely at the methods Barbara had utilized. This led to a practical workshop where Barbara had mocked up a mummy for us to work on. This gave us a chance to discuss and use some new materials and techniques as well as swap ideas and experiences.
Debbie Harris, Senior Conservator, attended “Subliming Surfaces”, an international two day conference about volatile binding media in Conservation. The conference was organised by Sophie Rowe and Christina Rozeik of the Scott Polar Museum, Cambridge who published a review in 2008 regarding a wax known as cyclododecane.
Cyclododecane (CDD) was first introduced to conservation in the 1990s and has gradually become common place amongst a variety of conservation specialists from textiles to stone. It can be used in many different ways to provide temporary consolidation, sealing or support of an object. Its’ popularity amongst the conservation community is due to its ability to ‘sublime’ without leaving an obvious residue- the wax disappears at room temperature and has minimum impact upon the object it is used.
We began experimenting with this product four years ago for facing up a Roman mosaic from Caistor St Edmund. Used as a hot melt with fine strips of Japanese tissue, it reinforced the plaster to enable it to be turned over and the reverse worked upon. We have also used it during excavation of a fragile iron shield boss and most recently for supporting an Anglo Saxon bucket during post excavation in the laboratory with great success.
Roman plaster being faced up using cyclododecane and Japanese tissue paper
The conference covered the various methods of application, its use in different disciplines, analytical techniques, case studies, as well as the impact upon the environment and human health. Whilst we have been using CDD with a degree of success, the conference has provided a wealth of new ideas and information which we can utilise in the future.
At the end of the month, Textile Conservator Deborah Phipps, will be attending “Back to Basic, Plastics and Modern Materials” at the V&A, Clothworkers’ Study Centre, the Tate stores and The Museum of London.
Objects made from plastics/modern materials, can be found in many museum collections, from social history, costume and textiles, to decorative and contemporary arts. The care of such material is unfamiliar territory to many conservators. The two day workshop will deal with plastics in textile and accessory collections, and include basic identification, conservation and storage techniques. Knowing what material we have and how it deteriorates, will help us adapt conservation treatments and storage and display techniques.
An example of degrading plastic spectacles with in NMS collections
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