[NHCOLL-L:4103] Removing Shellac (?) From Bone

[Weeks, Christopher]

Hello,
Discreet organic coatings, depending upon their composition, can be
vulnerable to pulsed laser ablation at 1064nm.  The mechanisms are
poorly understood (thermal shock within the film, excitation of
underlying/ bound soiling or pigmentation).  I have used pulsed NdYAG
laser to remove such coatings from stone and ivory.  I am not sure but I
think Lorraine Cornish and her colleagues at the Natural History Museum
in London may have comparable experience.  I would be interested to know
if there are any subscribers who may be able to comment.  My personal
concern at the moment is a fossil giant elk on display in the Manx
Museum, Isle of Man, heavily disfigured by a very dark, patchy shellac
layer.
 
Christopher Weeks ACR
Objects Conservator
Manx National Heritage
Kingswood Grove
Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3LY
Tel: +44 (0) 1624 648000
Fax: +44(0) 1624 648069
Website: www.gov.im/mnh <http://www.gov.im/mnh> 
Email: christopher.weeks at mnh.gov.im
 

Isle of Man.  Giving you freedom to flourish

WARNING: This email message and any files transmitted with it are confidential and may be subject to legal privilege. You must not copy or deliver it to any other person or use the contents in any unauthorised manner without the express permission of the sender. If you are not the intended addressee of this e-mail, please delete it and notify the sender as soon as possible.
No employee or agent is authorised to conclude any binding agreement on behalf of any of the Departments or Statutory Boards of the Isle of Man Government with any party by e-mail without express written confirmation by a Manager of the relevant Department or Statutory Board.
RAAUE: S’preevaadjagh yn çhaghteraght post-l shoh chammah’s coadanyn erbee currit marish as ta shoh coadit ec y leigh. Cha nhegin diu coipal ny cur eh da peiagh erbee elley ny ymmydey yn chooid t’ayn er aght erbee dyn kied leayr veih’n choyrtagh. Mannagh nee shiu yn enmyssagh kiarit jeh’n phost-l shoh, doll-shiu magh eh, my sailliu, as cur-shiu fys da’n choyrtagh cha leah as oddys shiu.
Cha nel kied currit da failleydagh ny jantagh erbee conaant y yannoo rish peiagh ny possan erbee lesh post-l er son Rheynn ny Boayrd Slattyssagh erbee jeh Reiltys Ellan Vannin dyn co-niartaghey scruit leayr veih Reireyder y Rheynn ny Boayrd Slattyssagh t’eh bentyn rish.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/private/nhcoll-l/attachments/20081204/0e6d415d/attachment.html