Hello Desmond and Nancy,

I feel I need to chime in on this one.  Generally having directional
lighting on the exterior of an exhibit case could pose glare/reflection
issues with the glass wouldn't it?  Conservation-wise, Desmond's suggestion
would be ideal, but isn't this why most museums with display cases have the
lighting inside the case?  

We are exploring LED lighting for the inside of our exhibit cases that
currently have (too warm) halogen bulbs and will be testing some samples
from Prolume out of Connecticut.  They have been recommended by Shelburne
Museum's conservator. I would be interested to learn about other vendors who
have installed LED lights that have dimmers in a museum setting.  

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Shannon O'Dell, Curator
Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry
University of Michigan
G532 School of Dentistry
1011 N. University
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078

734/763-0767
FAX: 734/647-6805
email: [log in to unmask] 
website: http://www.dent.umich.edu/museum/


  

------------------------------

Date:    Fri, 15 Jul 2005 13:58:49 +1000
From:    Museum <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: lighted display case?

Nancy: I assume that you will receive useful information from others, but my
advice is to avoid internal lighting, as apart from uv issues, you can
expect an increase in internal temperature from some types of lighting that
may affect sensitive items. Also, lighting externally is a more secure
method when it is necessary to replace globes or tubes, as the task would
not requiire the presence of a curator and/or a security officer. For very
sensitive items, I favour a timed switching device actuated by movement or
pressing a button.

Regards
Desmond Kennard
Museums in the making
Hill Top, NSW Australia

Nancy Reddy wrote:

>I have been given a display case for our small history museum. It at 
>one point was lighted and we might refurbish it to be lit again. It has 
>to sit in a dimly lit hallway. Are there any guidelines for what type 
>of bulbs to use, etc? Various artifacts will likely be rotated in the 
>case - glass, ephemera, textiles - for about a month at a time.
>Thanks,
>Nancy
>Berkshire History Museum
>Tioga County, NY
>

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