[NHCOLL-L:3469] Re: FW: Bird mounts

[Victoria Book]

I agree with Rich, these are separate issues.  But let's talk about 
both.

FIRST, check for arsenic and mercury.  You don't want to risk your 
health while cleaning a specimen.
There is a lot of literature out there, and some test kits available to 
test for these.  Collection Forum, for example, has several articles 
about pesticide residue analysis (Hawks, Williams, Odegaard, Makos are 
a few names to look for).  Test kits are available from the usual 
sources including FisherSci, VWR Scientific, Cole Parmer, and others.  
If your mount tests positive (take a few samples from different areas), 
you will need to wear personal protective gear (respirator, or at least 
a dusk mask, and gloves) and clean up very well.

Second, there are several ways to clean a taxidermy bird.  Always 
inspect the specimen before-hand for any damage, loose feathers, etc.; 
document any condition observations and take pictures.  I'd do the 
gentlest treatment that works and stop when it looks good enough.  It 
is easy to damage older specimens with an aggressive cleaning campaign. 
  Some treatment techniques include brush-vacuuming (as minor as it 
sounds, this can make a huge visible difference), Groom/stick eraser, 
cleaning powders (potato starch or document cleaning powder), steam, 
water (and a cool hair dryer), and organic solvents.

The conservation dist-list 
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/ has several 
postings about both these issues; here are two very good posts, but 
please check the dist-list for others.

Sally Shelton: 
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/1996/1168.html
Roberta Salmaso: 
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/1997/1470.html

There aren't many taxidermy conservators out there, but there are 
conservators who would take this on if you didn't want to try it 
yourself.  If you do try it yourself, please read up on the techniques 
and risks.  Feel free to contact me or a conservator in your area with 
questions.

If anyone has experience in this area, I'd like to hear from you.  
Please contact me off list (vbook at ou.edu).

Good Luck,
Victoria

Victoria Book
Conservator
Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
University of Oklahoma
2401 Chautauqua Avenue
Norman, Oklahoma   73072-7029
phone 405.325.5163
fax 405.325.7699
www.snomnh.ou.edu

On Jun 20, 2007, at 10:30 AM, Shirley Albright wrote:

> I'm forwarding this request from a colleague who could use some advice.
> Please respond to him AND to the list.   I'm sure there are others in
> similar binds.
>
> Shirley S. Albright
> Assistant Curator, Natural History Collections and Exhibitions,
> Collections Database Administrator
> New Jersey State Museum
> 33 W. State St., 3rd floor
> PO Box 530
> Trenton, NJ  08625-0530
> (Office)  609.292.6331
> (Fax)     609.292.7636
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Registrars Committee of the AAM [mailto:RCAAM at SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU]
> On Behalf Of rpennin1
> Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 11:09 AM
> To: RCAAM at SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU
> Subject: Re: Bird mounts
>
> Thank you Shirley,
>
> I am dealing with something more than just dust. Needs deeper cleaning.
> The
> mounts are old. I don't know how to test for arsnic and we are probably
> at
> least two states away from a taxidermy consrvator.
>
> Thanks for your response,
>
> Bob
>
>
>
>> ===== Original Message From Registrars Committee of the AAM
> <RCAAM at SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU> =====
>> Bob,
>>
>> Are you dealing with dust on the feathers or something else?   Is it
>> surface cleaning that is needed or something deeper?   A lot of 
>> museums
>> have allowed guests to touch taxidermy mounts in the past before the
>> arsenic/mercuric salt issue was brought to the foreground.  So, you 
>> may
>> need to know a little bit about how your taxidermy mount was used.
>>
>> I would suggest working with a skilled taxidermy conservator if you
> have
>> one in your area.
>>
>> Shirley S. Albright
>> Assistant Curator, Natural History Collections and Exhibitions,
>> Collections Database Administrator
>> New Jersey State Museum
>> 33 W. State St., 3rd floor
>> PO Box 530
>> Trenton, NJ  08625-0530
>> (Office)  609.292.6331
>> (Fax)     609.292.7636
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Registrars Committee of the AAM 
>> [mailto:RCAAM at SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU]
>> On Behalf Of rpennin1
>> Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 9:33 AM
>> To: RCAAM at SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU
>> Subject: Bird mounts
>>
>> Hey,
>>
>> Can any one tell me or point me in the right direction for cleaning 
>> the
>> feathers on taxidermied bird mounts?
>>
>> I would be greatful for any help....
>>
>> Bob
>>
>> Robert Pennington, Registrar
>> The Frank H. McClung Museum
>> The University of Tennessee
>> 1327 Circle Park Drive
>> Knoxville, TN 37996-3200
>> 865-974-6384/865-974-3827 FAX
>
> Robert Pennington, Registrar
> The Frank H. McClung Museum
> The University of Tennessee
> 1327 Circle Park Drive
> Knoxville, TN 37996-3200
> 865-974-6384/865-974-3827 FAX
>

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