Can anyone recommend an appropriate consolidant and application method for dried plant material (looks like sphagnum moss) that makes up part of a composite artifact? In this case, the artifact is a Victorian mourning wreath within a shadow box. The moss makes up the foundation for the wreath, and paper and wax flowers, and locks of hair of the memorialized deceased appear to be sewn through it onto a cardstock substrate which also forms the back wall of the shadow box. The plant material in question is very dessicated and readily sheds dark dusty fibers onto the white painted shadow box interior. Some of the plant material appears to be painted green, and some was left natural (now brown). The object must travel after conservation treatment, and will be exhibited in a historic house museum context. I would really like to find a way to minimize that shedding. Any thoughts?
Dee Stubbs-Lee, CAPC, MA Conservator / Restauratrice New Brunswick Museum/ Musée du Nouveau-Brunswick 277 Douglas Avenue Saint John, New Brunswick E2K 1E5 Canada (506)643-2341 ****** Unsubscribe by sending a message to [email protected] Searchable archives: http://cool.conservation-us.org/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/
