[Nhcoll-l] Refrigeration for tanned skins

[Chinn, Anna RBCM:EX]

Hello all,

We are planning storage conditions for a new collections building. In our current building, all tanned mammal skins are stored in a refrigerated, locked room. Recently, the fridge unit malfunctioned and the room had to be completely emptied. We are considering eliminating the fridge in the new building and integrating the tanned hides with the rest of the collection to avoid the risk of future melt down.

I would love to hear your experiences with tanned hides. Have you found refrigeration to be a net benefit to preservation? We have been storing some mounted taxidermy in the fridge room, as well. I am a little concerned that the fridge might make these specimens more prone to drying and cracking. Do other people have experience with this?

Thank you for all of your thoughts,

Anna
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Anna Chinn (She/Her)      Collection Manager, Birds and Mammals  |  Collections Care and Conservation

ROYAL BC MUSEUM
Traditional Territory of the Lekwungen (Songhees and Xwsepsum Nations)
675 Belleville Street, Victoria, BC Canada V8W 9W2
T 250-387-1216   |  M 250-886-1528

achinn at royalbcmuseum.bc.ca<mailto:achinn at royalbcmuseum.bc.ca>   |  royalbcmuseum.bc.ca  <https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/>

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