Bill Hanable:  I can make two suggestions for cleaning your birdies, both
leaning on the side of being very careful.

The National Trust Housekeeping Manual (1985) suggests:  "Taxidermists use
a bird's wing, with feathers, for brushing dust of specimen birds.  After
brushing, the feathers can be rearranged with a needle or a pair of very
pointed tweezers."

The Canadian Conservation Institute CCI Note "Care of Basketry" suggests:
"Place the object on a cleared work table.  With a soft brush, dislodge
dust and debris, directing it toward a gauze-covered vacuum cleaner nozzle.
 This removes dust without sucking detached fibres or decorative additions
into the machine."  Just a note:  open that ring near the top of the hose
to reduce the suction power.

You may also wish to try using a "dry cleaning sponge," using a gentle
touch, stroke the feathers from the quill to the tip.  These were used with
much success following a fire at a museum in Canada where there was intense
soot damage to natural history collections.  These are available from many
of the archival suppliers, including Gaylord (1-800-448-6160).


Hope this helps!  If you have any other questions or problems which you
think we could advise you on, please do not hesitate to contact us!   Karen


At 09:21 PM 8/22/97 -0700, you wrote:
>Our museum has two mounted eagles, one gold, one bald, that have been on
>display for several years.  Each has acquired a substantial amount of dust.
>Does anyone have suggestions for a cleaning method that will not damage the
>birds?  Any help appreciated.
>
>Thanks
>
>Bill Hanable
>Westport [WA] Maritime Museum
>William S. Hanable
>
>
>

******************************
Karen E.K. Brown
Field Service Representative
Northeast Document Conservation Center
100 Brickstone Square
Andover, MA  01810-1494
[log in to unmask]
Tel.(508) 470-1010
Fax (508) 475-6021
http://www.nedcc.org