[Nhcoll-l] Bison hide display techniques

Fri Jun 23 12:56:13 EDT 2023

Miranda,

I have done this a number of times with hides of varying weights, the heaviest being a horse hide, usually showing drawings on the skin side.  It should work for a bison hide as well, although the hide will be very heavy.

Normally, I would first prepare a backing board. The board could be the shape of the hide or a rectangular piece that is slightly larger than the hide.  The image shows a plexiglass backer, but it would be stronger to use plywood. Cover the board with a fabric with a nap - polar fleece works very well - it grabs the hide and will help to hold it in place and provide a protective layer from the wood board.  The clips are pressure fit.  The ones in the photo wrap around the backing board and are adhered into place.  With a wood backing board they could be screwed into place and this would be stronger.  If you have a rectangular board the clips do not have to be bent around the board, simply screwed to the backing board. This would probably be more secure, since Plexiglas weakens as you bend it.

The edges of the clips should be rounded and flamed to soften the edge and prevent it from cutting. And it should be wide - wider than the ones in the photo. You can use as many as you need to fully support the hide. This will spread the stress so that one area is not stressed too much. You could use brass or metal clips, if they were sufficiently wide and padded with felt or something to prevent damage to the hair.

If at all possible, I would suggest that you kick the bottom edge of the backing board out from the wall - even slightly - the hide will be exceedingly heavy and an angle will reduce the stress on it.

Another option would be to create a padded rod and have the hide lay over the rod - I am just considering how heavy a bison hide with hair is.

Let me know if you have any questions and I will try to help.
Gretchen Anderson

From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Anderson, Gretchen
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2023 12:47 PM
To: Dee Stubbs-Lee <Dee.Stubbs-Lee at nbm-mnb.ca>; Bible, Miranda <mbible at wtamu.edu>; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Bison hide display techniques

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
I agree with Dee - if you can, put a wall case over it.  That will make cleaning easier and be better for pest control.
Gretchen

From: Dee Stubbs-Lee <Dee.Stubbs-Lee at nbm-mnb.ca<mailto:Dee.Stubbs-Lee at nbm-mnb.ca>>
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2023 12:28 PM
To: Bible, Miranda <mbible at wtamu.edu<mailto:mbible at wtamu.edu>>; Anderson, Gretchen <AndersonG at CarnegieMNH.Org<mailto:AndersonG at CarnegieMNH.Org>>; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: RE: Bison hide display techniques

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Hi Miranda and all,

I am aware of an institution that had to battle a major clothes moth infestation in its collections storage. The source of the infestation ("ground zero" as we say) was eventually determined to be a bison hide. The thick fur gives plenty of opportunity for harbourage and feeding to go unnoticed. It's a good idea to be diligent about your IPM and keep that in mind when making decisions about display as well. I might be inclined to suggest an exhibit case for easier dust control and IPM monitoring. Good luck!

Dee

Dee A. Stubbs-Lee, MA, FIIC, CAPC
Conservator / Restauratrice
New Brunswick Museum
277 Douglas Avenue
Saint John, New Brunswick
E2K 1E5
Canada

(506) 643-2341

From: Nhcoll-l [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Bible, Miranda
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2023 1:15 PM
To: Anderson, Gretchen <AndersonG at CarnegieMNH.Org<mailto:AndersonG at CarnegieMNH.Org>>; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Bison hide display techniques

Hi Gretchen,

I believe we will be showing the fur side. It is tanned. The current thought is to display it vertically, if possible.

Miranda

From: Anderson, Gretchen <AndersonG at CarnegieMNH.Org<mailto:AndersonG at CarnegieMNH.Org>>
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2023 9:39 AM
To: Bible, Miranda <mbible at wtamu.edu<mailto:mbible at wtamu.edu>>; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] RE: Bison hide display techniques

Hi Miranda,

I have several ideas, and will send some photos later today.  First some caveats (and questions):

  1.  Which side are you showing - the skin side or the fur side?  Is it tanned or is it a rawhide skin?
  2.  Is it going to be displayed vertically, or on a slant?

I will get back to this this afternoon and send some phohtos.

From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu>> On Behalf Of Bible, Miranda
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2023 10:04 AM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Bison hide display techniques

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Any suggestions on how to display a bison hide on a wall?

Thank you,
Miranda

Miranda Bible
Curatorial Assistant
Archeology
Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum
D: 806.651.5233
panhandleplains.org<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.panhandleplains.org%2f&c=E,1,jnwZP74k6tGoGDcTKa9dlYtWxQnn3ro1KNBpvpgsHiWa_lBmEAPyGVp9s5t1rxVbJZIoipavb44p8v20CjpgQyuEUohMvxRWqUeBFqyQKkGYxfk5h9EjOg,,&typo=1>

The information contained in this message and/or attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system and destroy any copies. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender.

The information contained in this message and/or attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system and destroy any copies. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.yale.edu/pipermail/nhcoll-l/attachments/20230623/482485b3/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Clip.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 19144 bytes
Desc: Clip.jpg
URL: <http://mailman.yale.edu/pipermail/nhcoll-l/attachments/20230623/482485b3/attachment.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: clip 2.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 29295 bytes
Desc: clip 2.jpg
URL: <http://mailman.yale.edu/pipermail/nhcoll-l/attachments/20230623/482485b3/attachment-0001.jpg>