During Crista Pack’s 2011 summer project at the Alaska State Museum, she found several artifacts with a strange white mold-like substance on them. Suspiciously, the items were all from the same 2003 accession, but not all the artifacts from that accession had the mold. Baskets and other weapons were fine. And incoming paperwork and photographs [...]
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
A FUNGUS AMONG US
Posted: March 28, 2012 in UncategorizedTags: artifacts, climate, collections, conservation, Crista Pack, Delaware, environment, humidity, mold, museum, research, RH, xerophillic, xerophobic
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FEATHER
Posted: August 9, 2011 in UncategorizedTags: Alaska, arsenic, cocoon, conservation, feather, ID, identification, infestation, insect, mold, museum, powder, webbing, white, white stuff
Under construction August 2011 1. BACKGROUND Many kinds of feathers are used on Alaskan artifacts, particularly those of Native manufacture. Most commonly, feathers are seen as appendages on masks or as fletching on hunting tools or weapons. 2. POSSIBLE CAUSES The most common white stuff we have seen on Alaskan feathers is insect debris (such [...]
SHELL
Posted: August 9, 2011 in UncategorizedTags: Alaska, Byne's, conservation, crystals, deterioration, efflorescence, ID, identification, mold, museum, powder, white, white stuff
Under Construction, August 2011 1. BACKGROUND Shells can refer to various types of hard protective coverings composed primarily of calcium carbonate and comprise the exoskeletons of invertebrates, the outer layer of an egg or other similar specimens commonly found in natural history collections. Types of Marine Shell Bivalves (clams, oysters, muscles, cockles, etc.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bivalves Gastropods [...]
TAXIDERMY and FUR
Posted: August 9, 2011 in UncategorizedTags: Alaska, arsenic, borax, cocoon, conservation, crystalline, crystals, ID, identification, infestation, insect, mold, museum, white, white stuff
Under Construction, August 2011 1. BACKGROUND Alaska Native and non-Native cultures have made extensive use of mammal fur for all manner of clothing, gear, and artwork. And one can hardly enter a museum, airport, or mall anywhere in Alaska without encountering stuffed mounts of iconic Alaskan animals. The website for the Alaska Fur ID Project [...]
WOOD
Posted: August 9, 2011 in UncategorizedTags: accretion, Alaska, bloom, conservation, crystals, fatty, frass, haze, ID, identification, infestation, insects, museum, PEG, powder, spew, spue, wax, white, white powder, white stuff
Under Construction, August 2011 1. BACKGROUND A huge range of wooden artifacts are found in Alaskan collections. These range from waterlogged archaeological remains, to traditional Native feast dishes and tools, to picture frames, furniture and fine carvings. 2. POSSIBLE CAUSES The most common white stuff we have seen on Alaskan wooden artifacts are fatty bloom, [...]
BONE, TOOTH, IVORY, and ANTLER
Posted: August 9, 2011 in UncategorizedTags: adhesive, Alaska, calcined, conservation, crust, crystal, delaminating, effluorescence, ID, identification, museum, peeling, powder, wax, white, white stuff
Under Construction, August 2011 1. BACKGROUND Many Alaska Native cultures have used bone, tooth, ivory and antler extensively in their tools, fishing and hunting gear, ornaments, and other items. Some of these materials may look similar if they come from an archaeological setting. Marine mammals provided materials common to Alaska but not widely seen in [...]
CERAMIC
Posted: August 9, 2011 in UncategorizedTags: adhesive, Alaska, conservation, crystal, efflorescence, ID, identification, museum, powdery, salt, white, white stuff
Under Construction August 2011 1. BACKGROUND Most ceramics we see in Alaska have a porous structure that can allow water soluble salts from the ground or from seawater to penetrate. When the water dries, these salts can crystallize on the surface. If the item is glazed, the salts can cause the glaze to pop off [...]
TEXTILE and FIBER
Posted: August 9, 2011 in UncategorizedTags: adhesive, Alaska, cocoon, conservation, crystal, efflorescence, ID, identification, infestation, insects, lint, mold, museum, powdery, salt, webbing, white, white stuff
Under Construction, August 2011 1. BACKGROUND The Alaska State Museum has many garments and artifacts made of textile from various periods and cultures over the past few centuries. The Tlingit of Southeast Alaska have woven with mountain goat wool and cedar bark for hundreds of years, if not longer. Some items from the Russian period [...]
GLASS
Posted: August 9, 2011 in UncategorizedTags: adhesive, Alaska, conservation, crizzling, crust, crystal, efflorescence, ID, identification, museum, oozing, powdery, salt, weeping, white, white stuff
Under Construction August 2011 1. BACKGROUND Glass structure is composed primarily of silicates and can remain stable and relatively unchanged for hundreds, if not thousands, of years if cared for properly. Unfortunately, even with the proper care, this is not always the case as some glass is known to deteriorate rapidly over time. On a [...]
STONE
Posted: August 9, 2011 in UncategorizedTags: adhesive, Alaska, bloom, conservation, crystal, efflorescence, ID, identification, museum, oil, powdery, salt, spew, spue, waxy, white, white stuff
Under Construction August 2011 1. BACKGROUND Stone artifacts are most commonly seen in Alaskan collections as tools, projectile points, oil lamps, fishing gear, and argillite carvings. 2. POSSIBLE CAUSES The most common white stuff we have seen on Alaskan stone artifacts is salts from burial or contact with seawater, fatty materials from contact with oils, [...]
