Positions at Horniman Museum

Project work in ethnographic conservation
Horniman Museum, London

The Horniman Museum in South-East London has been successful in
obtaining a grant from the Gabo Trust for two projects. Both
projects are part of preparation work for a major re-display of the
Horniman's ethnographic collections, scheduled to open in November
1998 and April 1999. Details are as follows:

    1.  Research for the conservation of a group of Uvol dance
        crests from Papua New Guinea. These are large abstract
        geometric constructions made of cane, pith and plant fibres,
        brightly painted and decorated with feathers. They are well
        documented, and rare in museum collections. The project will
        involve research into, and analysis of materials and
        pigments used, and the testing of possible treatments.

    2.  Research into (preventive?) conservation of a group of
        African skin- covered wooden masks. These masks, from the
        Cross River area of West Africa, are also well documented,
        with details of manufacturing methods. This project will
        focus on behaviour of the materials, which are
        environmentally sensitive and prone to dimensional change,
        and will involve specification of display requirements,
        based on work already done at the Horniman Museum.

Each project will take approximately 3 months: dates and timings are
negotiable but work must be completed by October 1998 (skin-covered
masks) and January 1999 (Uvol dance crests).

These projects would suit a qualified conservator or conservation
scientist with one or two years' experience in general objects
conservation and a knowledge of plant materials and pigments (Uvol
dance crests) or environmental effects on materials (skin-covered
masks). Applications are invited for both projects: please contact
Rebecca Lang at the Horniman Museum for an informal discussion if
interested.

    Rebecca Lang
    +44 181-699-1872 ext 134
    lang [at] horniman__demon__co__uk

Louise Bacon, Head of Conservation
The Horniman Museum & Gardens
100 London Road, London SE23 3PQ, UK

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 11:70
                Distributed: Thursday, February 12, 1998
                       Message Id: cdl-11-70-018
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