The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is the world's largest children's museum. Founded in 1925, the museum houses an extraordinary collection of artifacts, among which two particularly unique specimens, a puffer fish and a passenger pigeon, recently underwent treatment at The Conservation Center.
Puffer fish, before treatment
Passenger pigeon, before treatment
The puffer fish, a taxidermy porcupine puffer fish mounted in a defensive posture, posed several conservation challenges. Measuring 7 inches in height, 10 inches in width, and 14 inches in length, this specimen showed signs of aging and prior handling damage. The fins had dried, and the ends of the fins had split with associated losses, while the spines exhibited minimal breaks and losses. Notably, an opening on the underside, which had been stitched closed, a 3-inch circular split in the skin between the pectoral fins, and a moderate layer of dust and grime added to the complexity of the treatment. Additionally, the specimen had likely been treated with arsenic during the taxidermy process, necessitating stringent safety protocols during handling.
Puffer fish, before treatment
Puffer fish, before treatment
Puffer fish, before treatment
Puffer fish, before treatment
Both objects were entrusted to the capable hands of Josh McCauley, Senior Conservator of Objects and Frames. His extensive knowledge and experience in conservation guided the treatment process. The conservation approach began with thorough photographic documentation of the puffer fish. The cleaning process involved a soft brush and a HEPA vacuum system to carefully remove surface dust and grime without causing further damage. To address the splits in the spines and fins, a reversible adhesive was used to secure the splits, while the fin ends were humidified to relax them. Following this, the fin ends were supported and filled with Kozo paper and an acrylic adhesive, and the fills were trimmed and inpainted with watercolors to match the surrounding coloration. These treatments, executed with precision and care, ensured the structural integrity and aesthetic coherence of the puffer fish, preserving its scientific and educational value for future museum visitors.
Puffer fish, during treatment
Puffer fish, during treatment
Puffer fish, during treatment
Puffer fish, during treatment
Josh also expertly cared for the passenger pigeon, a taxidermy specimen mounted on a branch attached to a wooden base. An extinct species of pigeon that was endemic to North America, this specimen, currently without glass eyes, exhibited a slight disturbance in the feather structure at the wing tips and a slight loss of skin and feathers on the proper left side of the neck. The wooden base showed signs of finish and stain loss around the branch attachment, suggesting a previous alteration.
Passenger pigeon, before treatment
Passenger pigeon, before treatment
Passenger pigeon, before treatment
Passenger pigeon, before treatment
To treat the pigeon, Josh began with detailed photographic documentation. He then prepared to attach new 6mm glass eyes, a decision contingent on their appropriateness as deemed by the conservator. The new eyes would be mounted onto a Japanese paper barrier within the eye sockets, facilitating easier future removal if necessary. Additionally, new eyelids were created from carvable epoxy and inpainted to blend seamlessly before the eyes were attached. The pigeon was gently cleaned using dry methods adhering to conservation standards, ensuring the delicate feathers and skin were preserved. While the finish and stain loss on the wooden base was left untreated to maintain the object's historical integrity, the overall treatment significantly enhanced the pigeon's appearance and stability.
Passenger pigeon, after treatment
Passenger pigeon, after treatment
Passenger pigeon, after treatment
Passenger pigeon, after treatment
The expert treatments of the puffer fish and passenger pigeon from The Children's Museum of Indianapolis underscore the delicate balance between preserving delicate objects and ensuring the longevity of these unique specimens. Through his meticulous work, Josh has maintained these fascinating artifacts and assured that they will continue to inspire and educate future visitors to the museum.
