Treatment

Insect droppings trapped in the fibres were removed with a soft brush and vacuum cleaner.

Creases were removed and distortions reduced by humidification treatment.

To preserve structural and visual integrity, Japanese paper was used to support and compensate the areas of tears and loss.

 

Humidification Treatment:

To safely reduce potentially damaging folds and creases on the barkcloths, HCC conservators devised a humidification chamber for this purpose.

A humidification chamber was filled with de-ionised water (water purified and removed from its ions).

A humidifier was used to raise the humidity level to 60-80%.

The barkcloth was interleaved with Goretex (a waterproof, breathable membrane) and placed on a plastic mesh tray to prevent contact with the water.

In areas where the folds were more severe, the process took up to 20 hours.

During this time the moisture in the chamber relaxed the barkcloth to make it more pliable.

Small sandbags were then placed on the barkcloth to smooth out the creases and folds.

In the final step, the barkcloth was allowed to dry very slowly to prevent shock and stress from its sudden change in humidity.

Soft Sculpture:

A soft sculpture, custom-made with archival quality materials was inserted to provide support and allow safe handling of the object.

- Cellulose-based cotton calico was chosen because its colour matched that of the barkcloth.

- The cushion-like softness of polyester wadding, also known for its versatility and stability, provides essential support.

- Softlon Foam (a chemically stable, flame retardant foam) was chosen to give the necessary rigid support to make it easier to handle the barkcloth.

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