3 Dimensional Artifacts
Traditionally, museums have stored three-dimensional objects on shelves or packed in boxes. The Royal British Columbia Museum has designed innovative storage methods that will promote careful handling and offer visible access to curators, exhibit designers and visitors. Storage containers developed for three-dimensional artifacts at the Royal British Columbia Museum had to (1) be portable, (2) provide good support for the artifact(s) they contain, (3) be made of conservation-approved materials that are compatible with the artifact(s) and (4) permit visibility of their contents.
Polystyrene boxes
Clear polystyrene boxes permit one to view artifacts without handling them. Removable bases allow the artifacts to be taken from their boxes safely.
The bases are made of sheets of Coroplast and are the size of the inside dimensions of the box. Ethafoam strips 1/2 to 1 inch thick are hot-glued to the base around the perimeter of the artifact to secure it to the base. The type of mount varies with the artifact.
For instance, a mount for a mask is built to support the interior cavity of the mask. The base can be removed from the box with cotton twill tape that is threaded through the base.
Several small objects such as baskets can be placed in one polystyrene box by separating them with thin strips of Ethafoam.
Fome-Cor®
There are a variety of ways to make trays for artifacts so that they can be handled safely. One convenient way is to build trays of Fome-Cor® with cushioning supports made of Ethafoam or a softer substance. Fome-Cor® can be purchased in sheets, cut with a utility knife and straight edge or on a mat cutter (preferable) and adhered together with hot glue. The hot-glue joints can be reinforced with bookbinding tape.
Supports are often made of Ethafoam. Sometimes an artifact will require softer supports such as a cotton/polyester knit material with polyester quilt batting inside. This will provide pillow-like protection to artifacts such as dolls.
Lids made of Fome-Cor® with polyester (mylar) windows will allow viewing of the contents while protecting them from dust. Trays with lids can be stacked in drawers and on shelves.
Coroplast Bins
Coroplast is a corrugated polyethylene and meets conservation requirements because it is chemically inert as well as waterproof. It can be shaped into a variety of storage containers for artifacts. Coroplast bins provide visibility and safe handling of artifacts stored on shelves. The bins are built in sizes of 1/4, 1/3, 1/2 and full length of the shelf. It is recommended that lids be attached to bins placed on open shelving to provide protection against dust and light.
The bins are constructed using large copper staples. To facilitate careful handling, removable bases are constructed in the same manner as for the polystyrene boxes. Mounts are made of Ethafoam and attached to the Coroplast base with a hot-glue gun. Ethafoam mounts are produced quickly by using 25-mm strips of 1/2-inch Ethafoam cut with a band saw.
Coroplast boxes of other shapes and sizes designed to store garments, large baskets and miscellaneous long and large artifacts.
Wooden Trays
Wooden trays are used to store a variety of wooden artifacts such as bentwood boxes, masks and other irregular-shaped pieces.
Wooden trays with Ethafoam cushions and nylon clamps are used to store some of the heavier artifacts that were placed in compactor shelving units. The nylon clamps only need to be adjusted once and are clipped into place.
Wooden Boxes
Plywood boxes with PlexiGlas® windows are made for a variety of heavy and irregular-shaped artifacts. Heavy stone bowls from the archaeology collection are placed in wood boxes and cushioned with Ethafoam.
The PlexiGlas® windows allow viewing without handling. Tall clocks such as grandfather clocks were also secured inside a wooden crate with a PlexiGlas® window.
Glossary
Coroplast is a brand name for corrugated polyethylene that is chemically inert and suitable for the storage of artifacts. It can be cut with a utility knife and straight edge, mat cutter or a table saw for numerous cuts.
Ethafoam is the name of a dense polyethylene foam. It comes in a variety of thicknesses (1/8 to 2 inches). It can be cut or sculpted with a sharp knife or it can be cut into strips with a table saw.
Fome-Cor® is composed of an interior layer of polyethylene foam between sheets of acid-free paper. It is easily cut with a sharp knife or a mat cutter.
Mylar is a trade name for a transparent, colourless polyester sheet or film. It is also known as Mellinex. Mylar can be cut easily with scissors.
PlexiGlas® is a trade name for a rigid sheet of clear acrylic. Some other common trade names are Perspex and Lucite.