Month: November 2012

This post is part of the “From the Bench” series celebrating the work of conservators. Part scientist, part detective, they work to preserve the past for the future. This series features the voices of conservators who are working on IMLS-supported projects in museums across the United States. For more information about IMLS funding for museums see www.imls.gov/applicants/available_grants.aspx.

Elizabeth Nunan, Associate Conservator, Natural Science Collections, American Museum of Natural History

With funding from the IMLS Conservation Project Support grant program, the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) conservators and fossil preparators have spent the past 12 months treating and documenting the museum’s unique and global collection of fossils in amber. The AMNH amber collection is one of the world’s largest, most diverse, and scientifically significant with nearly 17,000 pieces containing well over 25,000 inclusions of insects and other ancient life forms. When exposed to ambient conditions, such as light, temperature, and relative humidity, amber darkens, and over time microscopic cracks can form on exposed surfaces. In severe cases, this network of cracks, or crazing, can completely mask the inclusion, and large fractures can extend through their bodies. Without treatment, the amber can break or crumble, exposing the inclusions to further deterioration and making the specimen unsafe to handle or study. The IMLS Amber Fossil Conservation project was designed to stabilize all of the most scientifically important and some of the most deteriorated pieces in this collection so they can be safely stored, handled, and preserved for future research and exhibition. Of particular concern was treatment of the scientifically important type specimens – the first specimen to which the scientific name of an organism is attached.

To prevent the darkening and crazing that obscures and damages inclusions each amber type specimen is treated with Epo-Tek 301-2 epoxy,  either by coating exposed surfaces or embedding whole pieces under vacuum.  Embedding the amber in epoxy stabilizes the specimen by infiltrating the cracks, and making it less likely to break during trimming and polishing. One of the key benefits of such preparation is that researchers can get much closer to the inclusion and gain clearer views of important characteristics, without risking breakage or internal cracking. Many fossil insect specimens in amber could never have been properly studied without this process.

This project has helped ensure the preservation and overall accessibility of the museum’s priceless amber collections for the benefit of generations to come. In addition, the AMNH has already shared lessons learned and procedures developed with other institutions through publications and lectures at professional conferences such as the Society for Preservation of Natural History Collections, the International Paleoentomological Society, the Paleontological Society of India, and the University of Lucknow, India.

This post is part of the “From the Bench” series celebrating the work of conservators. Part scientist, part detective, part artisan, part caretaker, a conservator works to preserve the past for the future. This series features the voices of conservators who are working on IMLS-supported projects in museums across the United States. For more information about IMLS funding for museums see www.imls.gov/applicants/available_grants.aspx.

 Valentine Talland, Senior Conservator, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum received a Conservation Project Support grant from IMLS in 2009 to conserve objects that were the highest priorities for preservation in two important galleries: the Titian Room and the Tapestry Room. The Gardner was engaged in a major capital preservation project, concluded in 2012, with two objectives: first, the systematic preservation of whole galleries, including the conservation of art objects and the restoration of architectural finishes; and second, the construction of an addition to the building to relieve wear and tear on the museum’s historic interiors and to house expanding museum programs. The Titian and Tapestry rooms were central to these goals as well as to enhancing the visitor experience and education programs at the Gardner. Generous support from IMLS provided for the following conservation treatments:

1. Ten side chairs upholstered in 18^th-century painted and gilded leather. Six of these chairs are positioned in the center of the Tapestry Room where visitor traffic is relatively high. These chairs were reupholstered with handmade leather, reproducing the original colors and design (called Corfus). The de-upholstered original leather coverings were stabilized, cleaned, and safely housed for study and storage. Four of these chairs are exhibited out of visitor traffic; their original upholstery was cleaned, conserved, and retained on the chairs.
2. Bust of a Venetian Senator. This monumental marble sculpture was cleaned using the Gardner’s laser cleaner. It was remounted on a structural stainless steel pin. Prior to its reinstallation in the Titian Room, its gallery mount was re-engineered to safely support the sculpture’s weight.
3. King Philip IV of Spain, by Velázquez, and frame. A complete conservation treatment and investigative analysis of the painting was carried out. This included X-radiography and comparative study with versions in the Prado and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The frame, originally from a suite at Kingston Lacey, was consolidated, cleaned and retouched.
4. Namban Chest. This rare early Japanese lacquer chest was stabilized and cleaned. Treatment revealed original graphite scribe lines and brilliant mother-of pearl inlays. X-ray fluorescence analysis confirmed gilding on the silver mounts.

For more information on the Renzo Piano-designed addition to the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum and restoration of the Tapestry Room visit:

http://www.buildingproject.gardnermuseum.org/vision/tapestry-room-restoration

http://www.gardnermuseum.org/multimedia/featured_video?filter=4372