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THREAD: In 2019 I worked on this Orangutan taxidermy specimen for @GrantMuseum. He has a charming face, but a lot of noticeable cracking and wear, and a warped base. But it was heavy soiling coating his hair that really kicked off my "conservators twitch" #nathist #conservation
The specimen dates to 1914 and the base bears the badge of E.Gerrard & Sons, a well-known Victorian taxidermy and model makers based in London from 1850 to the 1960s. More information about the firm can be found at in this excellent memoir by Dr Pat Morris
The orangutan was removed from the base. The severity of the warping had split the base through, so the decision was made to replace the base for the stability of the specimen. The historical museum labels were transferred over.
Then I got to indulge in some cleaning! I used a well-practised method to wet clean the hair whilst ensuring the skin doesn’t get wet. It is a slow and dirty job, but from experience I knew this carbon based soiling would clean out well #nathist #taxidermy #conservation
The cracks were treated in a variety of ways depending on the structural dependency of the region. Seeing cracks and splitting is alarming for visitors, but in this case these were mainly aesthetic repairs #nathist #taxidermy #conservation
I look at this project with great fondness. I was pregnant and struggling with GERD and SPD. It was actually quite relaxing for me to just sit and clean him, but I had to relent to getting help with the moving, lifting and mounting from my husband @HystrixCristata and lovely mum
It is more important than ever to advocate for skilled and qualified practitioners. Wet cleaning can very easily cause irreversible damage and relies on years of practised skill, a specialist material knowledge and conservation grade products #supportskills #supportconservation
