Whose Tools are these?
Suction Machine:
Used in healthcare for drawing phlegm through nostrils, conservators attach tips and droppers to transform it into a precision vacuum cleaner.
Surgical Tools:
These are tools found in the skillful hands of surgeons in operating theatres.
Conservators use the same ‘fine scalpel blades’ when trimming excess material that is not part of the artefact or for scraping away corroded layers.
Used in surgeries for closing up wounds and torn tissues, conservators use these same ‘suture needles’ for stitching textile artefacts.
Abrasive Papers:
Commonly used for sanding walls and wood before painting works, conservators use ‘abrasive papers’ to level treatment areas on artefacts. It is typically used to reduce the plaster of paris fill in ceramics conservation.
Entomological Pins:
Normally used for securing insect specimens, conservators also use entomological pins for fastening delicate artefacts for display. These pins are also used for holding down textile artefacts during conservation work.
Cotton Wool Kit:
Conserving the environment even as artefacts are being conserved – conservators produce their own cotton wool kits of varying sizes to meet the needs of their precision works.
Recycling is part of the process when perforated metal caps are adapted to help dislodge the used and wasted cotton buds from the wooden sticks.
Cosmetic Kit:
In conserving and caring for artefacts, conservators are exacting in their choice of treatment tools. For cleaning of artefact surfaces and textiles, conservators only use soft brushes and sponges that are also delicate enough for human skin.
