Collections Conservation

Behind the scenes, talented craftspeople are repairing important objects in the Museum collections.

Collections Conservation

Current collection care projects plus twelve illustrated ways to prevent damaging works of art. Behind the scenes, talented craftspeople are repairing important objects in the Museum collections.

Collection Care Projects

Whaling master, Charles H. Turner’s scrimshaw desk.

Conservation Spotlight: Scrimshaw Desk

This monumental desk is among the largest and most elaborate scrimshaw pieces in the Collection.

One of the Museum’s iconic artifacts, the Purrington-Russell Panorama, is believed to be the longest painting in the world.

Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage Round the World

Created when giant paintings unrolled in front of a paying audience, this Panorama survives as a nationally important artifact of American culture.

Conservation Spotlight: 1919 YWCA Lithograph

This large (40” x 28”) poster made of extremely thin, brittle paper was severed completely in half, was riddled with smaller tears, and had ragged edges.

18th Century Dutch Clock

Built by Gerrit Knip, a clockmaker in Amsterdam, this clock was part of the Samuel Rodman household when it moved in the 1790s from Nantucket to New Bedford.

Scrimshaw Collection

Until recently, much of the scrimshaw collection was showing its age. Repairs and restoration of nearly 100 pieces of scrimshaw is now complete.

The Care and Handling of Objects

Until recently, much of the scrimshaw collection was showing its age. Repairs and restoration of nearly 100 pieces of scrimshaw is now complete.