A guest blog by PRM Curatorial Assistant, Maddie Ding:
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| © Wellcome Images |
At the end of February I went to London with Andrew, a PRM Conservator, to de-install an exhibition of amulets at the Wellcome Trust. Curated by the artist Felicity Powell, Charmed Life was inspired by the collection of Edward Lovett’s amulets held by the PRM. I was involved with the original installation last autumn; now our job was to remove, check and pack the 381 objects lent by our Museum.
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| Maddie and Felicity Powell arranging amulets for display during the installation of Charmed Life in 2011. © Wellcome Images |
We worked from Monday to Wednesday. The first case lid was removed by the Wellcome Technicians team shortly after our arrival and objects were carried to the work table where they were condition checked by either Andrew or myself and countersigned by the Wellcome Trust conservator before being packed. The objects were removed from display in reverse order to how they'd been installed (i.e. the last one in was the first one out). Objects were placed in plastic bags and padded with foam. The bagged objects were packed in the appropriate plastic box. The wooden crate held nine plastic boxes each with a contents list.
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| Andrew and Luana (Wellcome conservator) checking objects under lamplight |
Before the objects left the Pitt Rivers Museum for loan, they were assessed by another of our Conservation team, Jenny (who is now working on the Small Blessings project). She described and photographed each object so our role was to compare the object with the original condition report to check that no changes had occurred. Happily there no problems as the condition of all the objects matched the initial assessment. Each time we had a break, the objects we had de-installed were stored in the packing crate and the lid secured. The remaining objects were secured in the display case and the gallery locked.
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| © Wellcome Images |
By Wednesday all the objects were packed safely into their
crate. The time it takes to install or de-install an exhibition depends on the
number, complexity, size or significance of the objects and working practices
of the host museum. This de-installation was calculated to take about three
days but if we needed more time the return transport could be delayed. The
courier company provided a lorry with drivers to transport the objects back to
Oxford, and Andrew and I personally accompanied the crate back to the Pitt
Rivers Museum. Most of the objects will be re-packed
for storage but a few will return to display.
Maddie
P.S. Even though the exhibition has now finished, you can see a selection of the Pitt Rivers Museum's Lovett amulets that were on display here.
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