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  • 1.  arsenic?

    Posted 10-14-2022 15:42

    Greetings Community,

    We have a ceremonial wand with an eagle claw in it on display.  It has been there for a few years with no issues.  This week we discovered a bit of flaked debris underneath it.  It is very sturdy and stable as near as we could tell and don't see signs of insect frass.  I have no idea why we are having loss and flaking from the surface of the claw at this point in time.  WIe brushed the debris in the case onto Mylar and gently brushed the claw over the Mylar to remove any loose bits and it did loosen some very fine granular bits onto the Mylar.  We've put it back on display to see if more collects.  It is completely covered in a vitrine. 

    I have photos attached of what the debris looks like and one inserted below.  I'm concerned its arsenic but don't have experience with that.  And my concern in general is what is happening here to destabilize the condition of the surface of this object.  And what should I do about it!

    Any and all advice appreciated,

    Jodi Lundgren
    Collections Manager
    Crazy Horse Memorial 



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    Jodi Lundgren
    Collections Manager
    Crazy Horse SD
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  • 2.  RE: arsenic?

    Posted 10-17-2022 17:14
    Hi Jodi, 

    I only see the image that was inserted and not those attached, so hopefully I'm not too off-base with what I'm about to say! 

    The yellow-orange color of that material looks more like a fatty/oily substance to me. Arsenic soaps and other preservatives were grey-white. The fine granular particulates may be sawdust or ground corn cob fragments that were stuffed into the claw around the bones in an attempt to absorb some oils when it was first prepared (since not everything that you would want to remove can be removed). Over time it has dried out and is now flaking. 

    Of course the only way to know for sure is to do analysis. If any more flakes off, gather and place in a ziplock bag and then email me for help in analysis. Fran_ritchie@nps.gov

    Have the RH and temp stayed consistent in that space? 

    Best,
    Fran





  • 3.  RE: arsenic?

    Posted 10-18-2022 15:56

    Hi Fran,

     

    Thanks for replying! 

     

    I'm attaching a few more images.  Some folks on the museum pests list thought we might have a carpet beetle issue.  We spotted a bug in the case a day or two after we saw the debris.  An image of that is attached.  Someone thought the other images may be carpet beetle larvae or Cetenolepisma calvum nymph so I attached the photos he cropped from what I sent.  Someone thought my particulate matter was beetle frass.

     

    Our RH control stinks.  We get to lows of 20%RH in winter and upwards of 56%RH in the summer peak.  This object has either been on exhibition through those swings for the last 3 – 4 years or in storage for the preceding 18 years.  This happened a month or two after peak RH and starting our decline into our winter lows.

     

    We have found an entry hole on the claw now.  That along with how acute this was, i.e. no issues and nothing in the case until all of a sudden there is this, makes me think this may be a beetle problem too.

     

    I've got a couple of images of the full object here, one a close-up of the claw.  It is made of a wood shaft with the eagle claw at the end and the wand wrapped in beadwork with leather fringe and ribbon details.  I'm thinking I'm going to need to go through a freeze cycle but checking on the best way to do that with an assemblage of parts like this.  None of it is wrapped too tightly so I think we should be good with freezing.  But I haven't treated an object like this before so want to be sure I'm not putting it at more risk.  If anyone has advice on freeze treatment for an object like this I'd love to hear it!

     

    Thanks,

     

    Jodi Lundgren

    Collections Manager

    The Indian Museum of North America®

    Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation

    12151 Avenue of the Chiefs

    Crazy Horse, SD  57730-8900

    Phone (605) 673-4681

    jodi.lundgren@crazyhorse.org

    www.crazyhorsememorial.org

     




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