Archival Mountmaking:
Complex mounts
Juhl Wojahn
Assistant Collections Manager
Denver Art Museum
100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway
Denver, CO 80204
720.865.5033
jwojahn@denverartmuseum.org
Archival Mountmaking
Materials:
Tools:
Archival cardboard (blueboard)
Utility knife
Coroplast
Hot glue gun
Volara
Metal Ruler
Ethafoam
Bone folder
Tyvek
Cloth measuring tape
Cotton Stockinette
100% Cotton unbleached sheet
Archival tissue
The drop side box mount
• Good for objects that are somewhat
unstable and need more protection from
light and dust.
• Object can be supported from multiple
sides.
• Good for stabilizing medium to small
objects.
Cut the dimensions needed along the black lines. Score the grey
lines with a bone folder. The sides are then folded up and the tabs
are secured on the outside using the hot glue gun. Tabs can also
be secured with cotton twill to allow the side to be untied and
lowered down.
Tab
Sides
An alternative method of box construction uses less materials
and is more efficient for large boxes.
This method requires slightly
more time to make. Since
the box is not made of one
single sheet the design is
slightly more vulnerable if the
glue should fail over time.
side
back
The tabs at the bottom
should be sewn to avoid this
possiblity.
side
tabs
bottom
front
The box pieces are cut along black lines and scored along grey lines, then
assembled and glued together as shown. Tabs for this sort of box should be at
least 2” wide to allow a large enough surface for good glue adhesion.
The front of the box can be either glued or tied.
The object found on the shelf has several loose pieces.
Mobile storage and gravity have not been kind. Figures and
other elements of the piece that are wired to the base have
toppled, endangering nearby objects.
Drop sides
All sides of the mount are made to drop away,
allowing different points of support for the various
figures. Holes for the ties are made with an awl
when the box is folded together to ensure a good fit.
Holes for
twill ties.
A support for the unstable figures is made, tested, and then
glued into place.
The tree presents
several difficulties. It is
only attached to the
base by two wires and
is also top-heavy. In
addition, a small bucket
hangs from one branch
by a chain.
The restraining pad is
made to firmly cradle
the object, and thin
museum board is used
to protect the chain.
The pad is beveled to make sure it does not impact
the object when the box side is folded into position.
The tree is tied to the
side of the box to
prevent it from falling
into the figures below.
When closed all loose
elements are supported.
A box constructed to have only one side drop away allows
other methods of padding and stabilization to be used.
This combination
of a flat board
mount and a drop
side box allow the
object to be held
very securely
while still allowing
ease of removal.
Pads can also be made to be
completely removable. This
allows delicate objects to be
held very securely once the
box is closed.
Removable
mount elements,
ties, and any
other securing
device should be
clearly labeled to
avoid confusion.
The drop front box is made. The constructed
box method is used to save materials.
The object is measured.
Guides for the removable
pads are glued in.
Pads are made to split in
half for easy removal of the
object.
Pads are cut to conform
around the base of the
object.
Pads should always be covered with tyvek, cotton sheet, or
stockinette. Most polyethafoam products are too abrasive for safe
contact with objects.
Upper pad
guides are glued
in place.
Pads are cut to
conform to object
and restrain any
unwanted
motion.
Once pads are in
place a box lid is
made and the
drop front is tied
off.
Platform or board mounts
can also be challenging
due to the required
structure. Here the base
gives stability and also
helps prevent incidental
contact with delicate
elements of the object.
The interior of the mount is
padded with poly batting
and lined with tyvek to
reduce abrasion
Storage for heavy or delicate
works (sometimes both)
The following is a large cast
bronze triptych surfaced with
gold leaf. The pads have been
covered with silicone release
paper to reduce the chance of
adhesion or abrasion of the gold
leaf. Multiple handles were
installed to allow greater
leverage. The open design was
chosen to minimize surface
contact with the gold leaf.
Side pads were covered
in tyvek.
The sides of the storage
frame were constructed
of a layering of
dimensional lumber and
plywood to increase the
strength of the frame.
The back was chosen for
the removal point to allow
access to the handles
already cast into the
piece.
The removal of the back
slats also lessened the
chance of abrasion to the
leaf while the slats were
being installed.