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  • 1.  moss on wooden sign

    Posted 10-30-2024 14:04

    Hello,

    Help...I have a wooden sign with dry moss and the edges of the sign are breaking down.  I am needing advice on how to remove the moss and stabilize the brittle ends of the sign.  The moss is soft on top and can be easily removed but some of the undergrowth is slightly attached to the wood.  Can I use a soft brush and delicately remove the moss with tweezers? For the wood, it is solid except for the ends, if touched, small powder like pieces come off.  For stabilization, can I use a mixture of wheat starch and neutral PVA?  I have read that a 5% solution of PVA has been used.  What is the preferential stabilization practice? The sign will be hung on a wall in the collection area and probably remain there for some time.  I have included some photos.  Any advice will be appreciated! And any workshops or lectures on wooden objects and such would be really helpful.

    Thanks!!

    Tanya 



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    Tanya So
    Owner
    Chambersburg PA
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  • 2.  RE: moss on wooden sign

    Posted 10-31-2024 12:54
    Hi Tanya,

    Wood isn't my area of expertise so I'm going to reach out to some colleagues for advice and get back to you. However, I would say that at first glance, this sounds like a situation where you will likely need to consult an objects conservator. You can find one near you at https://www.culturalheritage.org/about-conservation/find-a-conservator

    Best, 





  • 3.  RE: moss on wooden sign

    Posted 11-01-2024 14:22

    I would also recommend consulting a conservator.  Some things to consider:

    Is the moss part of this history of the object?  Is it actively harming the wood?  If it is evidence of the sign's previous history and is not currently causing damage, it should be retained.  

    The wood breaking down into small particles is probably the result of fungal attack when it was wet,. It is unlikely to continue if the wood is kept dry.  The deteriorated wood could be consolidated with a suitable cosnolidant. I would favour Paraloid B72 acrylic copolymer of ethyl metheacrylate and methl acrylate rather than PVA, especially as Paraloid B72 will allow the passage of moisture through the wood whereas PVA tends to form barriers, causing increased moisture related damage behind. 

    Good luck

    Helena



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    Helena Jaeschke, ACR FIIC
    Conservation Development Officer
    Museum Development South SWest
    Taunton UK
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: moss on wooden sign

    Posted 11-04-2024 07:18
    Hello Helena, thank you for your reply. Some visitors of the park found it in the woods and thought that the museum would want it. So the head curator dried the sign without cleaning it. Then when I came aboard as a second curator.... (I'm a book and paper conservator) he told me to clean it so he can hang it on the wall in the collections room. So I'm treating it as if it were paper but perhaps I can be more aggressive with it? 





    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: moss on wooden sign

    Posted 11-04-2024 10:57

    Hi Tanya,

    I heard back from some of my contacts. Here is what an object conservator has to say:

    Removing the moss with a soft brush, tweezers and a vacuum with a low suction would be a good first step. However, I would not recommend using wheat starch paste and PVA to stabilize the deteriorated wood. I think it is likely that those adhesives will simply gum up the ends and will not look good while also not providing enough strength.  I would recommend sticking to the gentle cleaning and seeing if there is a local conservator who can test some more appropriate consolidants for the wood stabilization.

    Best,

    Saira

    Connecting to Collections Care Monitor



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    Saira Haqqi (she/they)
    Connecting to Collections Care Monitor
    Senior Conservator
    National Archives and Records Administration
    College Park, MD
    saira.haqqi@nara.gov
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    Original Message


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