Delicate storage vital for special masks

Q:What’s the best way to preserve a Mardi Gras mask that is made of feathers?

A:Feathers are delicate and easily damaged. The best way to preserve the mask is to prevent damage through proper storage and handling and to monitor it for insect infestation.

Handle the mask with clean hands or clean white cotton gloves and keep handling to a minimum. To protect the mask from fading and soiling, wrap it in unbuffered archival tissue and store it in an archival box. Place pads of crumpled tissue under raised areas of the mask to provide additional support.

These storage materials are available from archival suppliers including TALAS, www.talasonline.com, 212-219-0770, and Gaylord, www.gaylord.com, 800-962-9580. If left uncovered, dust will adhere to the feathers’ natural oils. It may be possible to clean feathers with a soft natural bristle brush by following the direction of the feather vanes.

Long-term display is not recommended.

Light will fade the colors and can cause feathers to become brittle.

The best storage environment is a comfortable, moderate temperature and relative humidity. Avoid excessive dryness, dampness, heat or cold.

Inspect the storage box every two months for signs of insect activity, such as insect exoskeletons, feather fragments or granular dust from insects feeding on the feathers.

If an infestation is discovered, seal the mask in several plastic bags, lay it in a tissue-padded box and place the box in a freezer for two weeks to kill the insects. Remove the box and let it sit untouched at room temperature for a day before the bag is opened. Repack the mask in new storage materials. To discourage future infestations, vacuum the storage area each week.

Q:My child spilled water on a picture book. When I discovered it, the book had dried and the pages were stuck together. I can’t get them apart. What should I do?

A:Your book probably has coated paper pages, like those found in a glossy magazine. This type of paper is covered with a layer of white pigment mixed with a gluelike material that binds the pigment together and holds it onto the surface, creating a smooth surface for printing.

If the pages get wet then dry while still stuck together, the water-soluble coating acts like an adhesive. It may not be possible to separate the pages without damage.

Books with wet coated paper pages often can be saved if action is taken before they begin to dry. If the wet pages can be separated, place paper towels between every page and change them several times to remove the water. If the pages are too wet to separate, wrap the book in freezer paper and place it in a freezer until you can take it to a vacuum freeze-dry facility recommended by a library or museum.

Karen Dabney is the conservator for the University Libraries of Penn State University. The inclusion of suppliers in this column does not imply endorsement. Readers may send questions for future columns to KLD25@psu.edu.