The internship requirements for Master of
Applied Science in Materials Conservation were completed
in the Materials Conservation laboratory of
the Australian Museum under the direction of Miss Sue
Walston between November 30th, 1981 and July 9th,
1982.
The work programme focused upon the preparation
of artefacts for a permanent gallery display
entitled "The Abelam, a people of Papua New Guinea".
Wooden carvings, shell ornaments, bone implements,
ceramic and coconut bowls, and wooden spears were the
most common artefact types requiring treatment, prior
to display. Many objects were decorated with pigments,
shells, beads or feathers and were secured with plied
fibre string. Artefacts were photographed , condition
and proposed treatment reports were written, practical
work was carried out and final treatment reports were
finished.
Upon completion of the gallery, the Materials
Conservation laboratory staff reviewed their role in
the overall gallery plan. As a group, the problems
affecting the conservation and display of artefacts
were identified and analysed. A flow chart of exhibition
guidelines for Materials Conservation was prepared
for use when planning future galleries.
The relative humidity and temperature were
monitored regularly in various areas throughout the
museum. Accurate readings were obtained using a sling
psychrometer and thermohygrographs. Each week the
modes of the relative humidity charts were calculated,
analysed and recorded.
While treating objects for the Abelarn gallery,
the need for specifically coloured support materials
became evident. Dye types capable of permanently
colouring a diverse range of cellulosic materials were
investigated. Trichromatic colour cards were prepared
for each material.
A flood occurred in the Aboriginal gallery
which required immediate action by the conservation
staff. Affected artefacts were transported to the
laboratory, stabilized and reports on their condition
were written.
A workshop on microscopic examination of
cellulosic materials was organized by Mary-Lou Florian,
Conservation Scientist with the British Columbia
Provincial Museum, Canada. She also gave a lecture at
the Forestry Commission of N.S.W. on Conservation of
Aboriginal carved trees and Canadian totem poles.
Dr. P. Casey presented information on fungi to
the Australian Museum Conservation staff.
A technical meeting on the topic of interlaboratory
co-operation was attended at the conservation
unit of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. The
conservation facility at the Art Gallery of N.S.W. and
the Nickleson Museum, University of Sydney, were viewed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/219434 |
| Date | January 1982 |
| Creators | Midwinter, Donna lillian, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Applied Science |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Donna lillian Midwinter |
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