What happens after an object is selected to be exhibited in the Collection Gallery? The process shown in this video is an overview of what goes into bringing an object from storage to display.
First, a curator chooses an object and retrieves it from the vault. The curator examines the object and confirms or adjusts its cataloging information in the museum’s collections database: title, date, medium, dimensions, and inscriptions.
In the conservation lab, conservators examine and record the object’s condition to determine whether any treatment is needed. For this daguerreotype, the cover glass is cleaned, the daguerreotype package rebound with materials appropriate for long-term preservation, and the hinges of the case mended. Because daguerreotypes are viewed behind cover glass, the conservator takes advantage of the opportunity to photograph the bare plate, examine it, and document any further condition notes.
In order to properly display this object, preparators create a mount to support it in an open position using an angle that will also enhance the viewing experience.The mount is created from a sheet of thermoplastic polyester, which is cut and then heated to create bends. When it is time for installation, preparators carefully place the object within the case, along with text that has been researched and written by the curator.
By taking these steps, we ensure every work that will be on display is documented, protected, interpreted, and prepared for you to see in the gallery.