Buffalo Bill Center of the West
July 2024 - September 2024
Conservation Intern
Supervised by conservator Beverly Perkins, this role was my introduction to the conservation field. In this role, I treated a variety of works, including frames, works on paper, ceramics, and firearms. I also assisted with the housekeeping of the galleries. Finally, I was a part of a preliminary XRF study of the collection.
Selected Work
XRF Study
A preliminary, XRF survey was carried out across the collection. Selections were presented at the 2024 Cody Firearms Museum Symposium: Arsenals of History.
Ceramic Bowls Mock-up
Two broken ceramic bowls were adhered and the join inpainted.
Blackfoot Raid in Jackson Hole
Large preparatory sketch on paper. It was documented, conditioned and treated, including the testing and removal of tape, tear repairs, and cleaning.
Frame I
Gilded decorated frame was conditioned and treated, involving structural stabilization, cleaning, and filling and toning losses.
Colt Revolver
Colt Official Police Revolver was conditioned and treated to enable closure, including cleaning.
XRF Study
While at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, I assisted with an XRF survey of selections of the collection, supervised by conservator Beverly Perkins. First, several items, including taxidermy, were scanned to assess the presence of heavy metals.
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In collaboration with the curatorial team of the Cody Firearms Museum, a survey of the firearm collection was completed. The goal of the study was to assess the efficacy of applying XRF to material analysis of firearms throughout history for a future complete study. With curator Danny Michael, I presented the results of this preliminary study at the 2024 Cody Firearms Museum Symposium: Arsenals of History.
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This research could be applied to further understand the history and development of firearm manufacture and trade.
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Through this experience, I began learning about the applications of XRF and the analysis of XRF results.
Photo by Beverly Perkins
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Excerpt from symposium presentation.
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An example of one surprising result was the high amount of tin found in firearms long presumed to be brass (copper-zinc alloy), rather than bronze (copper-tin alloy).
Ceramic Bowl Mock-up
These two ceramic bowls were not a part of the museum collection. They were broken in order for me to practice the use of bulked epoxy to adhere ceramic. I adhered the ceramic using HXTAL NYL-1 Epoxy bulked with fumed silica. I then inpainted the seam with Liquitex acrylic polymer emulsion and finished with Grumbacher Resin Based Gloss Varnish to match the gloss of the high-fire glaze.
Photo by Beverly Perkins
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Bowl 1 before treatment
Bowl 1 after treatment
Bowl 2 before treatment
Bowl 2 after treatment
Frame I
This frame was damaged, dirty, and had some structural issues. I cleaned the object using a mild enzymatic solution applied with swabs. Acetone was used in select areas. Exposed wood was isolated using Paraloid B-72 resin. Losses were filled using DAP DryDex Spackling Paste and inpainted with Liquitex acrylic polymer emulsion.
Loss filled with spackle
Loss filled with spackle
Fill after inpainting
Fill after inpainting
Blackfoot Raid in Jackson Hole
This piece is a preliminary work in preparation for the oil on panel piece “Blackfoot Raiding Party in Jackson Hole”. It was mounted to a large piece of cardboard using various types of tape. While this was likely done by the artist, the curatorial and conservation team decided it was necessary to remove the work from the cardboard to aid in the best preservation of the work.
Because the tape was original and had markings from the artist, I first thoroughly documented and annotated the work. After testing solvents on the adhesive, I removed the tape through mechanical means and using water as a solvent.
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Removal of the tape revealed some tears, which I mended using wheat paste and Japanese paper.
Before and after mending of tear (verso)
Example of annotated documentation
Colt Official Police Revolver
The bore and cylinder of this revolver had a large build up of an oil based substance, possibly applied when the object was in use. The substance was discolored. It was removed with mechanical means from the bore and cylinder.
Substance on cylinder before cleaning
Cylinder after mechanical cleaning