[Nhcoll-l] Question about taxidermy turtle.

[Simon Moore]

Hi Roser,

The turtle that I repaired some while ago mainly had some structural issues and I used some epoxy resin (Teroson) to correct this and give the structure some added strength.  The reason that I used this was because it sets quite quickly, depending on the amount of catalyst used and the ambient in the work area, it has excellent adhesion and can be cut to shape, if required, when it plasticises just before it sets hard. Then it can be shaped using a small grinding tool.
I also use neutral pH PVA as an adhesive as it’s water reversible and can be diluted with water if required and it sets to a semi-tranpaurent finish and so is good for gap-fills and it can be painted over. 

The problem with this type of work is that you don’t know what knowledge or material there was when this turtle was either prepared or repaired, so there are often a few surprises of unsuitable materials!  It also sounds like there are fat bodies under the skin and these need to be removed. You may either cut the skin and peel it back to reveal such a problem, scrape away the fatty tissue and then clean with acetone to remove all traces before re-adhering the skin flap.  If you use cotton buds and acetone, this method is good but it will probably take for ever and you will use many cotton buds and a lot of time and even then the problem may recur. So, entire removal of fat bodies is better.

Old putty can be removed using a chisel and mallet (gently!), depending on how much it has been used, or it can be ground away.
The wax is possible and may have been added to seal the skin or shell even. Remove it by chipping away with a spatula.
Gypsum also needs to be removed as it will not help.

I would also suggest that you post this onto the nh-coll forum: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu <mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu> to see if any better solutions may be presented.

In the meantime I have added your details to the various courses for 2024 and I will be in touch once I have dates and venues set up.

If you have any difficult areas, send me a photo and I will try to help.

With all good wishes, Simon

Simon Moore MIScT, RSci, FLS, ACR
Conservator of Natural Sciences and Cutlery Historian.

www.natural-history-conservation.com


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> On 30 Oct 2023, at 07:00, Roser Boutin <boutinros at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Yes, I would be interested! The thing is my assistance would depend on work and other commitments, because I would have to travel from Spain to assist, but given the chance I would take it. 
> The thing is the turtle is a leatherback, and asking around we have figured out the preserved skins leak oil in perpetuity, and shrink. Because this one in particular is 100 years old (if the records are to be believed), the seams have busted and the gypsum mount is exposed. Some years ago somebody filled the gaps with some kind of putty or preparation layer (I think it's rabbit skin glue with some white pigment) and another conservator used epoxy resin to repair another area. The first was broken and fell off the skin in chunks, because of the oil and shrinking, and the second one is ripping the skin as it shrinks, because it's harder. 
> This is a specimen that's on permanent exhibition, so a repair is needed, but I have no clue about what way or if it's even wise to repair it. Have you ever encountered something similar, or know of a way to do so? 
> Also, the body is filled with some kind of wax where there's no gypsum, do you know for what reason the taxidermist or a curator would do that? 
> Sorry if this is a bit of a puzzle, my head is in a mess!
> Thank you so much for your time,
> Roser Boutin. 
> 
> 
> Missatge de Simon Moore <couteaufin at btinternet.com> del dia dv., 27 d’oct. 2023 a les 10:32:
> Hi Roser,
> 
> Yes, that’s fine to ask questions about your turtle project and hopefully I can help.
> 
> I have put yr name down on my list of likely participants for the next taxidermy and possibly entomology specimen conservation courses.  Do you also wish to attend the next fluid preservation course as well?
> 
> 
> With all good wishes, Simon
> 
> Simon Moore MIScT, RSci, FLS, ACR
> Conservator of Natural Sciences and Cutlery Historian.
> 
> www.natural-history-conservation.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > On 27 Oct 2023, at 00:11, Roser Boutin <boutinros at gmail.com> wrote:
> > 
> > Hi Simon!
> > A while ago I asked for help from the SSAR because I'm doing my final project on the taxidermy mount of a Leatherback Turtle of the Natural Science Museum of Barcelona, and they gave me your contact info. I apologize if any of my words or phrasing is a little weird, but I'm studying Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage and I was wondering if you could answer some questions or doubts I had about a couple of things. 
> > Also, I have been looking through your training courses and I'm very interested! I would like to ask if there's some way to get notified of upcoming courses? 
> > Thank you,
> > Roser. 
>