[Nhcoll-l] taxidermy and mold/mildew

[Steve Sullivan]

Treatment for mold can be better addressed by others but I have $0.02 on the
use or disposal of specimens like these...  A few years ago I coordinated
the re-exhibition of specimens that sound just like yours.  Ours were on
display for the better part of the century with few augmentations or
changes.  When they were removed, the specimens exhibited fading, some
insect damage, and had accumulated some soot.  But in many cases, the
taxidermy was excellent and audiences still responded positively to the
artifact.  

 

In our specialties we can often become overly perfectionist. As a
taxidermist I am often reluctant to display any specimen that exhibits less
than Carl-Akeley-like perfection.  As a curator I want each specimen to have
ideal coloration.  As a collections manager,  any sign of insect damage or
other agents of deterioration are anathema.  However, as any craftsperson
can tell you, most people will not see the imperfections that you see.  In
our case, the specimens were removed but not deaccessioned and remained off
display for about 10 years.  With significantly less work and expense that
would be necessary to create a display using new carcasses, we were able to
reuse these older specimens in a new context.

 

I worked with interns and volunteers to make new bases and refurbish
background material as necessary.  Where fading was bad we might simply
reposition the bird to make the unfaded side the show side, but in other
cases I simply airbrushed color onto the feathers in the way you might when
painting a reproduction fish.  In doing this, I used all of the materials a
modern taxidermist might (i.e. I was not concerned with specimen
"conservation" in the academic sense of reversibility, etc.).  In one case
where the feet of a goose had been eaten away by dermestid, I gave him a new
puddle to stand in, complete with muddy feet.

 

Today we have a new multi-media exhibit that uses these old specimens, along
with some new ones, that helps Museum visitors identify common birds that
show up in their backyard. The exhibit does everything it was intended to
from a modern aesthetic and informational perspective.  Additionally, we use
the specimens to talk about the importance of historic collections and
specimen preservation, institutional activities of the past, changes in
taxidermy techniques, negative impacts of buildings, cats, and windfarms on
bird populations, and many other issues that are more effectively discussed
through the use of these historic and not-so-perfect specimens than they
could be with a new specimen.    

 

To be able to show Museum visitors a specimen from the late 1800s that looks
(to them) almost as good as one that was accessioned yesterday helps them
have confidence in us as stewards of our collections and as users of the
natural world.  

 

--Steve

 

Steven M. Sullivan  |  Senior Curator of Urban Ecology

The Chicago Academy of Sciences and its Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

 

Museum|2430 North Cannon Drive|Chicago Illinois 60614|
<http://www.naturemuseum.org/> naturemuseum.org

Collections|4001 North Ravenswood Ave.|Chicago Illinois 60613|
<http://projectsquirrel.org/> projectsquirrel.org

P 708-937-6253 | F 773-755-5199 | ssullivan at naturemuseum.org

 

A century of memories and lessons from the Passenger Pigeon at
<http://passengerpigeon.org/> passengerpigeon.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

From:  nnhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu
[mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of
Heather.Thorwald at dmns.org
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2014 2:03 PM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Cc: jessica.cruz at uni.edu
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] taxidermy and mold/mildew

 

I am posting this on behalf of a colleague from the registrars' listserv.
Please reply to her directly at the address below.  -- Heather

 

From:  Jessica Cruz, University of Northern Iowa

 

I am in the process of cataloging and dismantling the ornithology exhibit my
museum has had on display for the past 25 years. Naturally, this has yielded
some unfortunate surprises. I have found a number of birds that show signs
of mold and mildew and wanted to know what people might recommend. Overall,
these are not unique specimens so I doubt we will want to invest in
conserving them. My initial reaction is to deaccess and dispose of them, but
I wonder if there might be some way to neutralize it. 

 

I should also mention that these are birds from the late 1800's/early
1900's, and they are being moved to a new display where they will probably
sit for another 20-30 years.

 

We are assuming these have been treated with arsenic and are taking all
proper precautions. I am also working with the University's hazardous
materials manager to make sure the birds we have to depose of are taken care
of properly.

 

Thanks!

Jess


Exhibit Preparator

University Museums, University of Northern Iowa

jessica.cruz at uni.edu

319-273-2495

 

 

 

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