I maintain a lot of open displays (full disclosure: I am therefore generally opposed to the concept). While I don’t consider myself an authority on best practices, I would add to Valerie’s excellent response:
After 6 months to year, even horizontal surfaces above three meters will have accumulated a considerable amount of dust. We dust our giraffe taxidermy on open display once a year. We dust the area around their hooves much more often, even though it is behind an approximately 1.5 meter barrier. The point that Valerie made about how the general state of mechanical systems and housekeeping in the building (and air quality in the surrounding environment) will impact the maintenance of an open exhibit is worthy of special emphasis. For example: clothes moths can be attracted to (and breed) in hair and dust in large electrical raceways, on ducting, in crevices under cabinet bases and baseboards, and other out-of the-way places. Moths and other insect pests in the building will then find their way to textiles, fur, or feathers that are on open display. Birds nests outside (or on the exterior) of your building may supply a reservoir population for repeated infestations. The regular cleaning procedure should include a check for signs of pest infestation (a very bright flashlight can be helpful) before and during all cleaning activities- not only in the folds and undersides of garments, but throughout and adjacent to the open display area. It is easy for moths and beetles to go unnoticed until great damage has been done. -- Ian Hart Preparator Exhibit Studio California Academy of Sciences 55Music Concourse Drive Golden Gate Park San Francisco CA 94118 (415) 379-5879 ****** Unsubscribe by sending a message to [email protected] Archives through August 2016 at http://cool.conservation-us.org/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/ Archives from September 2016 onward at https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
