Ellen Seidell

Making the Modern World Gallery

A large scale condition assessment of the Making the Modern World Gallery (MMW) has been in effect for two years. In continuation of these efforts, all objects within 7 large display cases were assessed for condition and documented. Similar to the Flight Gallery, numerous objects lacked condition updates, or history.

The aim of the project was to individually assess each display case within the gallery and notate all recorded information into a comprehensive spreadsheet. The map of the gallery was also to be updated accordingly during the assessments.

To date, the contents of 7 of the display cases were comprehensively assessed, culminating in the production of detailed condition reports for each individual object. Furthermore I have successfully updated approximately 122 records with both condition and photography documentation.

Flight Gallery

Situated on the third floor of the museum, the gallery experiences frequent foot traffic, varying light and UV exposure throughout the day, and lacks consistent climate control in both the display cases and the gallery itself. Many objects within the gallery had not been assessed for condition since the late 1990s or never assessed at all. 

The aim of the project was to individually assess each display case within the gallery and notate all recorded information into a comprehensive spreadsheet which can be referenced for future gallery refurbishment. Each object required notion of previous condition, current condition, current photography, current hazards, previous conservation, and conservation recommendations to be individually updated in both the spreadsheet and on the Mimsy database. The map of the gallery was also to be updated accordingly during the assessments.

Additionally, numerous objects in the display cases, namely suspended model planes were noted for their poor condition, supplemented with photographic records for MIMSY. With the tires being composed of hard rubber, their state of deterioration was noted potentially due to their age and the impact of the surrounding environment. 

To date, a considerable amount of the display cases have been comprehensively assessed, culminating in the production of detailed condition reports for each individual object. Furthermore I have successfully updated approximately 210 condition assessments and uploaded 55 photographs of objects that previously lacked visual identification on the Mimsy database. 

Overview:

Two overarching projects of the placement involved conducting intensive condition surveys of multiple galleries within the Science Museum. Without a thorough condition assessment of the display cases, the physical state of the objects would remain unknown. The concern pertaining to fluctuating light exposure, aging display cases, and inadequate climate control made this project highly relevant and has shed light on the overall unstable conditions of the current gallery spaces. This knowledge has inspired plans for necessary changes in the near future, including the reassessment and refurbishment of the galleries.

While assisting at Blythe, duties included adapting to the needs of the project dependent on the scheduled transport of objects to off-site storage. Safe and efficient packaging was imperative for all objects. One focus was the packaging of the collection of historic prosthetic limbs, all which varied in physical state.