Before and after treatment.
As is often the case with artifacts made from feathers,
hair, and other fragile materials that we treat, this
wreath from the New Scotland Historical Society
necessitated special handling. It was composed of many
flowers and leaves made completely from feathers and was
attached to a heavy cardboard with stitches. It was set in
a deep oval frame and covered with glass. The feather
wreath was extremely fragile and any abrupt movement might
cause loss of feathers or some loosening. There was mold on
the surface of the glass and on the board to which the
wreath was attached, as well as a thin layer of dirt and
debris over all of the surfaces inside the frame. In
addition the backing wood board had separated from the
frame, no longer providing protection from dirt, debris and
insects that might enter the frame.
The goal of treatment was to remove the residues from the
inside bottom of the frame, a task that proved particularly
difficult since the frailty of the wreath prevented it from
being turned upside down. The frame had to be carefully
taken apart for cleaning while a system was created to
support the wreath during treatment. The wreath was
carefully vacuumed. Mold staining on the frame was cleaned
by vacuuming and use of chemical sponges. An acid-free mat
board covered in cotton fabric was made to fit inside the
frame. The wreath was returned to the frame with an
additional acid-free buffered board and secured to the back
of the frame with screws. Finally a layer of Marvalseal was
sealed with metal foil tape to the back of the wreath
support board and the original wood boards were returned
and secured to the frame with offsets and screws. It was
recommended that the wreath be stored in a moderated
environment with a relative humidity below 65% to prevent
the reactivation of mold.