One of the models that came to CCI for treatment represented
an equipped canoe that had been used by the Hudson's Bay Company.
This canvas-covered model (MP127) was 1.87 m (73.5 in.) long,
and was filled with miniature fur bundles, provision sacks,
paddles, sails, and tarpaulins. Unfortunately it appeared
to have served as a toilet for mice, and half of the interior
of the canoe plus many of the bundles and sacks had been drizzled
with a liquid (probably urine) that had turned dark brown.
In addition, a piece of folded fabric representing a tarpaulin
and some of the wooden ribs of the canoe had been gnawed.
Analysis showed that the brown stain was soluble in water,
and expectations were high for removing it.
However, following treatment the stain (although lessened
in intensity) was still quite noticeable. Two kinds of bleach
used in the treatment of the textile sacks and bundles proved
to have little effect. The dark coloration remained and continued
to detract from the aesthetic of the model.
A birch bark model (MP89) that represented a three fathom
fur trade canoe had not only been badly stained, but 10 ribs
were missing and the mice had gnawed the underlying wooden
sheaths. The birch bark was badly damaged with large cracks
radiating from both sides of one end. Lai Wing Fai (an intern
from Hong Kong working in the Objects Lab)1 gently brought
the bark back into alignment, repaired the cracks, and created
new ribs to replace those that had been lost.
Another canoe model was badly splayed. In this case the gunwales
had spread open and the thwarts had pulled away from one side,
breaking the root lacings that had held them in position and
leaving a gap of about 5 cm (2 in.). Initially it was thought
that the model could be realigned simply by exposing it to
solvent vapours to plasticize the bark. Unfortunately the
solvent vapours caused the gum on the seams of the bark to
run, so a different (and more complicated) approach had to
be taken. Lai and Bob Barclay (a senior conservator in the
Objects Lab) first removed all of the ribs and allowed the
entire hull to spring back into its original shape. To relieve
the considerable force that would be exerted by the ribs as
they were reattached, the end of each rib was shaved to decrease
its length. The removal of original material is not standard
practice, but in this case it was essential if the original
structure was to be maintained. The ribs were then reattached
and the canoe was brought back into correct alignment.
After all treatments were completed (which took about 6 months),
the canoe models were prepared for shipment back to The Mariners'
Museum. They were wrapped in tissue, placed in slings inside
the same boxes in which they had arrived, and then wrapped
with additional cotton tapes to secure them in place and prevent
movement. Each canoe was thus padded and protected for the
journey. These shipping boxes had been designed and made at
The Mariners' Museum, and proved to be very successful. The
Museum plans to publish or present details on their construction
sometime in the future.
The remaining 86 models in the collection will be cleaned
by staff and volunteers of The Mariners' Museum. To assist
them with this task, CCI has provided 3 days of instruction
in writing condition reports and treatment proposals, cleaning
to a consistent and desired level, consolidating the gum,
and making basic repairs to cracked or broken root, bark,
and wood.
When the Adney collection is finally ready for display, it
will provide researchers and scholars with primary source
material. More information on the collection can be found
on the Web site of The Mariners' Museum.
- For more information on Lai and his work, see CCI Interns.
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