[Nhcoll-l] Large pelt storage - roll or drape?

[Haff, Tonya (NCMI, Crace)]

Hi Angela,

We used to store our pelts hanging, with very bad results (not so much stretching as breaking). However, we did not try draping through the centre of the pelt on a thick pipe, which is probably a much gentler solution. We also have rolled pelts, and these are also a problem now, as some of them are brittle and  break when unrolled.

We moved to a flat storage solution in Delta cabinets. If we only had one per drawer this would be a problem (not enough space or money for all the cabinets), but we have layered the pelts on the drawers. This isn't as good as each having their own space, but again, space and money constrain the perfect solution. At any rate they are in a much better situation than they were before, and the cabinet footprint isn't too different from the compactus with hangers that we had before.

Cheers,

Tonya

From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Hornsby, Angela
Sent: Thursday, 19 March 2020 4:25 PM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Large pelt storage - roll or drape?

Hello everyone,

I have a variety of large tanned pelts -- bighorn sheep, bear, horse, etc. -- that need storage upgrades on limited space.

Flat storage is not an option.  I can either roll them, or drape them over 4" PVC pipes (these are empty, so no fear or leaking).  I'm concerned that rolling would flatten or break the hairs, and that draping would stretch the pelts over time.

Is there a clear preference, or another option I'm not thinking of?  Thanks in advance!

Angela

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Angela Hornsby, Ph.D.
Curator, Philip L. Wright Zoological Museum (UMZM)
Office ISB 322
University of Montana
Phone (406) 243-4743

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