Display: USEFUL SUPPLIERS
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LIGHT and UV: Try to exclude all ultra-violet radiation by eliminating or filtering daylight, choosing
lights which do not emit UV or by having case glass that filters UV.
Some fluorescent light diffusers filter out UV but not all. Fluorescent tubes emit more UV as they
age.
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Filtered glass or acrylic sheet is available from manufacturers such as Pilkington and may
be available as part of a double-glazed or secondary glazed unit.
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Filter films (for u-v and visible light) are available from suppliers such as www.sun-x.co.uk
or www.sureguard.co.uk
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Ultra-violet filters for fluorescent tubes can be obtained from www.preservationequipment.
com They should last for about 10 years. Their efficacy can be checked annually with a UV
meter. They are 4 ft / 1219mm long and can be cut to fit with a pair of scissors.
Light damage is cumulative. Aim to expose objects to light as little as possible. Do not leave them
exposed to light unnecessarily. Very sensitive material, such as original photographs,
watercolours, costume, fur and feathers should not be on permanent display. Light exposure can
be reduced by using copies (e.g. photographs) or changing the displays. Very popular items that
the museum needs to keep on display as long as possible could be protected with lightproof covers
or curtains except when being viewed by visitors. Light levels should be checked when the
displays or the lights are changed, using the light and UV meter available through the CDO. Light
exposure is measured in lux (intensity) multiplied by time in hours. Light sensitive items should not
be exposed to more than 75,000 - 150,000 lux-hours per year. Blinds can be used to reduce light
levels.
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Unbleached calico can be purchased from fabric shops or direct from www.whaleysbradford.ltd.uk who can supply the fabric already scoured and ironed.
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Blackout blinds can be used to completely eliminate light when the museum is closed or
(when partially closed) to lower the light levels when items are on display.
TEMPERATURE and HUMIDITY:
Be aware of the recommended conditions for the materials on display, but do not change the
conditions rapidly. For example, a wooden item which has been stored in very dry or very damp
conditions and is then exposed to a rapid change in relative humidity by being put in a display at
50% RH may warp or split. Allow objects to acclimatise slowly – this may take days or weeks.
Monitor the temperature and relative humidity and aim for stability. Dataloggers which record
continuously are available from £95 (e.g. TinyTag Ultra) from Preservation Equipment and other
suppliers. Small battery operated temperature/relative humidity meters are available on E-bay or
for approx £15 from www.maplin.co.uk Thermohygrographs which record on a paper chart are
available from Preservation Equipment.
Control the relative humidity with a dehumidifier or humidifier. These can be purchased locally or
online, e.g. Mitsubishi MJ-E16VX-E1 from www.dry-it-out.com/ £325 or www.meaco.com
Dry climates can be created in small, well-sealed containers such as cases or boxes made from
acrylic (e.g. Perspex) or inert styrene such as the Crystal boxes from www.stewartsolutions.co.uk , using silica gel crystals to absorb moisture from the air. The crystals can be
dried out in a baking tray in an oven at 80-100°C to enable them to be reused. Silica gel with a
coloured indicator is useful as you can easily see when it is exhausted and needs to be dried out.
It can be obtained from www.geejaychemicals.co.uk or www.conservation-by-design.co.uk
MATERIALS:
Ideally, all items used near an object should have been subjected to an Oddy test to make sure
they will not harm the object. Some manufacturers test their products. In other cases, we rely on
choosing materials that are known to be inert or acid-free.
Creation Baumann www.creationbaumann.com use the Oddy test on the following fabric ranges
INDIANA II, PONTE II, ULTRA IV, UMBRIA III, UNISONO III, USUS II, VELOS. They are
expensive but good quality for long-lasting use. A cheaper safe option is unbleached calico cloth
Conservation Development Officer: Helena Jaeschke helena.jaeschke@exeter.gov.uk
Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Queen St, Exeter, EX4 3RX 01392 265951
Display: USEFUL SUPPLIERS
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that has been scoured (boil-washed with no detergent). This can be purchased from fabric shops
or direct from Whaleys (Bradford) Ltd. For short-term displays, if you must have coloured fabric,
choose a poly/cotton fabric and scour it yourself. Do not use fabric conditioner or ironing sprays,
just steam.
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Acid-free board is available from art stores and good picture-framers (who may let you have
off-cuts) or in larger quantities from www.atlantisart.co.uk or from www.conservationresources.co.uk
Acid-free tissue is available from some stationery shops, packaging suppliers or
www.conservation-by-design.co.uk
Polythene foam (Plastazote or Jiffy foam) are available from Preservation Equipment or
packaging suppliers such as www.polyformes.co.uk or www.ramfoam.co.uk
Wooden shelves, drawers and case interiors should be sealed with three coats of Dacrylate acrylic
glaze 103-1. It costs about £25 for a 5 litre tin (delivery free) and is available from Clifton Paints
92-100 North Street, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 1HF Tel: 0117 966 0321. Alternatively, all wooden
surfaces can be covered with Moistop or Marvelseal barrier film that is heat-sealed onto the
surface with a domestic iron. MOISTOP PP004 is available in rolls of various widths from some
builders’ merchants or from Conservation By Design.
MANNEQUINS: Use a smaller body than the costume and pad it carefully to fit without straining.
Simple bodies are available from www.proportionlondon.com Choose the Bustforms –
Workroom range. Arms and legs can be made from cotton calico or cotton jersey (non-elasticated)
padded with polyester wadding. These can be slid into the costume and then attached to the body
to minimise strain. Shop display mannequins are often made from painted fibreglass or other
materials which may be deteriorating and could cause damage. They should be sealed with
Dacrylate varnish, then covered with cotton calico before being padded and covered for use. They
are often too large and the wrong shape for older costume.
MOUNTS: Mounts should provide maximum support and be easily removed without damage to the
object. Many cheap display mounts are made from polystyrene or other polymers which can
deteriorate and damage the objects. If materials are used (for short term display only) which are
not acid-free or inert, they must be sealed to protect the object. Use polyester or polythene film or
aluminium foil, held in place with archival quality double-sided tape (available from Preservation
Equipment)
 Perspex (acrylic) resin is a safe material. But the edges may be too sharp and may need to
be smoothed with fine grades of wet-and-dry sandpaper and then washed.
www.dauphin.co.uk supply some Perspex mounts
 Polyester film from www.secol.co.uk can be used to support items such as photographs
and documents or to isolate objects from unsuitable surfaces. Be careful that the edges of
the film do not cause damage.
 Never place an object in direct contact with a metal mount. Isolate it with polythene foam,
polyester felt padding or silicon or polythene tubing. Heat shrink polyolefin (polythene)
tubing for coating metal pins is from http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Mister-Shrink
GLOVES: Polythene, latex or nitrile gloves are available from chemists, hardware stores and
cleaning suppliers such as www.justgloves.co.uk
HOUSEKEEPING: Keep the area clean. Monitor the condition of the objects regularly.
Photographs of any items causing concern can then be checked to see if corrosion or
discolouration is increasing, cracks widening etc.
Check pest traps regularly and record the results to spot any possible hazards and signs of
increasing activity. Sometimes the presence of pests will help identify other problems, such as
blocked gutters or birds nesting in the roof spaces. Pest traps are available from Preservation
Equipment or www.historyonics.com
Conservation Development Officer: Helena Jaeschke helena.jaeschke@exeter.gov.uk
Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Queen St, Exeter, EX4 3RX 01392 265951