Recoloring Faded Taxidermy – Research into the Properties and Applicability of Dye Materials for Conservation Treatment.

In 2013, the American Museum of Natural History and Yale University’s Center for Conservation and Preservation were awarded an Institute for Museum and Library Services’ (IMLS) National Leadership Grant to fund a three-year project devoted to the development of best practices for recoloring faded taxidermy mounts displayed primarily in habitat dioramas: Recoloring Faded Taxidermy – Research into the Properties and Applicability of Dye Materials for Conservation Treatment.
Follow the research through the project blog – In Their True Colors: Developing New Methods for Recoloring Faded Taxidermy [http://intheirtruecolors.wordpress.com/]. The blog is now live – add your comments and questions to be addressed in subsequent blog posts!
After years of display under bright lights, and harsh temperatures and humidity, many taxidermy mounts have become discolored and faded. Techniques for restoring the lost colors of damaged natural history collections are limited and under-researched. This knowledge gap puts at risk collections of great educational value, especially as some historical specimens represent species that are endangered, if not already extinct.
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The project conservators are interested in developing re-coloring methods that would minimally alter the texture or sheen of hair and fur, and could be as reversible or re-treatable as possible.
This research will foster cross-disciplinary partnerships between conservators and scientists with varying forms of expertise, helping to bridge the institutional gap between natural history, art, and history museums and collections.
The IMLS-funded project will build upon promising results from a pilot study conducted by the Museum into the use of certain dyes, such as those used in certain specialized printing inks, to recolor taxidermy hair and fur. The next few posts will present the results of the restoration project that resulted in the dramatic restoration of the faded specimens in the habitat dioramas in the Museum’s Bernard Family Hall of North American Mammals.
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The findings from the study, which the Museum conservators presented at 2012 annual meetings of the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC) and the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and published in the October 2012 International Committee of Museum, Natural History Collections Working Group Newsletter, were received with immense interest by practitioners and researchers alike. Together with results from a national survey among conservation professionals, it was evident that there was a strong need for comprehensive research to explore additional materials and discover an appropriate method for recoloring faded taxidermy in museum collections.
Posted on behalf of Elizabeth Nunan
Associate Conservator
Natural Science Collections Conservation
American Museum of Natural History

5 thoughts on “Recoloring Faded Taxidermy – Research into the Properties and Applicability of Dye Materials for Conservation Treatment.”

  1. Very interesting work. In my own painting of wild life I use inks on archers cold press paper. Working with single hair brushes up to #1 to create the actual feel of the animal or bird I am rendering. It’s painstaking single color application coat over coat with ever so slight changes to tone to create the depth needed to give a 3D look to the subject. I am very interested in following the procedures used here to bring the life back into the coats of the furbarriers. If you are interested in my techniques with inks and dies I will share them with whomever.
    Dave

  2. Hi Dave,
    I’m a Technician at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History. We have a few (not to say many!) specimens that will need some coloring. I’m really trilled to learn as much as I can about the different technics that are out there to apply them and share them with my co-workers.
    I would love to hear about your technics and others experiences with such a reality in our profession.
    Thank you!
    Melissa

  3. Hi Melissa, I am now part of the AMNH Mammalian Taxidermy Re-Coloring project. If you have more questions, please feel free to e-mail me at fritchie@amnh.org. We will be holding a workshop at an upcoming conference on the Care & Conservation of Mammalian Taxidermy (set for 2017). Sounds like it would be very beneficial for you to attend.
    I hope to hear from you!
    Fran Ritchie

  4. What an interesting technique, Dave! I am now part of the team working on this AMNH-Yale project. I would love your contact information. If you’re able, please send me your e-mail. I’m fritchie@amnh.org.
    Thank you,
    Fran Ritchie

  5. Good stuff I wish you the best of luck. Look into veg. base pigments.
    Check out our website We have sold to may taxidermists, Artists, Museums all over North America.

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