Documenting a historic mounted fin whale skeleton in preparation for a move: a case study at the Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona

• Main Authors: Pérez-Azcárate, Marta, Font-Rosselló, Bernat, Garcia-Franquesa, Eulàlia
• Other Authors: Consorci del Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona; Mètodes de conservació en museus; Conservació d'espècimens zoològics; Ossos; Cetacis; Balenes; Conservació i restauració; Museu de Natural history de Barcelona; Preservation of zoological specimens; Bones; Whales; Conservation and restoration; Museu de Ciencias naturales de Barcelona; Conservación de especímenes zoológicos; Huesos; Cetáceos; Ballenas; Conservación y restauración; Ciència i tecnologia; articles; Fin whale
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2072/365001; http://hdl.handle.net/11703/120500

In 2009, theMuseu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona launched a new permanent exhibit that included removal and restoration of a landmark piece, a fin whale skeleton, and complete redesign of its assembly structure. In this paper we present the process and results of documenting the piece before the dismantling procedure. A graphic record was created as part of the restoration process, which secondarily served as an important source of information for designing the new mounting system. A detailed visual examination of the skeleton revealed problems in the preservation of the bone. The results of the preparatory examinations proved useful for planning a new preventive conservation program for the piece in its new location. Key words.—dismantling, documentation, mount, whale, preventive conservation, skeleton. In 2009, theMuseu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona launched a new permanent exhibit that included removal and restoration of a landmark piece, a fin whale skeleton, and complete redesign of its assembly structure. In this paper we present the process and results of documenting the piece before the dismantling procedure. A graphic record was created as part of the restoration process, which secondarily served as an important source of information for designing the new mounting system. A detailed visual examination of the skeleton revealed problems in the preservation of the bone. The results of the preparatory examinations proved useful for planning a new preventive conservation program for the piece in its new location. Key words.—dismantling, documentation, mount, whale, preventive conservation, skeleton. In 2009, theMuseu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona launched a new permanent exhibit that included removal and restoration of a landmark piece, a fin whale skeleton, and complete redesign of its assembly structure. In this paper we present the process and results of documenting the piece before the dismantling procedure. A graphic record was created as part of the restoration process, which secondarily ...