Cellophane in collections

Anne Léculier

Abstract

In 2003 the American Museum of Natural History presented Vietnam, Journeys of Body, Mind and Spirit, an exhibition illustrating Vietnamese culture in the early 21st century. Lanterns from this exhibition, made with cellophane stretched over a bamboo structure, showed unusual conservation problems. The cellophane on these objects split soon after arrival from Vietnam. This paper discusses the manufacture of cellophane, its properties, and the treatment of the lanterns.

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2003 | Washington DC | Volume 10