Hidden secrets

When an object is accepted into the collection it goes through a formulated process that includes passing through the Conservation Lab.

It is then the Conservator’s job to examine the object and write a condition report and this is added to the Museum’s database. As you saw in the previous blog entry about the Colours, the examination of an object is a thorough process.

When condition reporting an object, the conservator is looking for a range of things:

• identification of materials used, construction techniques, modifications or historic repairs
• ‘inherent vice’ – i.e. does the material the object is made from have properties that will eventually cause the object to deteriorate
• damage – for example has it been dropped, crushed, broken, etc.
• wear and tear – are the components wearing out, surface abrasion, evidence of operation or use
• environmental damage – is there damage due to light, dirt, dampness, water, relative humidity and temperature
• biological – any signs of the presence of, or damage from insect or mould

The object is then given an overall condition rating. This differs from institution to institution but usually follows along the lines of poor/fair/average/good. Using this information the conservator will identify any treatment required and, in liaison with the Registrar, storage requirements.

Sometimes during the condition reporting we also discover previously unknown information about the object. A good example of this process was a piano donated to the Museum in 2013. This piano was believed to have arrived in New Zealand on the Blundell in 1848 (IR 13/134/1).

During examination the fret board was removed from above the keys revealing the names of the piano tuners and the dates they tuned the piano.
Photo: Toitū Otago Settlers Museum.

It is information such as this which enhances our knowledge and history of the object. It is also fun to discover an object’s hidden secrets.