Selection of Materials for the Storage or Display of Museum Objects

For the past 30 years, conservation scientists at the British Museum have been world leaders in research into the sources and effects of emissions from display and storage systems in museums. A valuable object may be housed in an enclosure such as a cupboard or showcase to improve its physical security; however, this may inadvertently put an object at risk, due to emissions of harmful gases from the storage and display materials. All materials used in the storage and display of artefacts at the British Museum now have to pass one or more tests before they can be used. This has made a dramatic impact on the stability of the collection.This Occasional Paper was compiled in response to numerous enquiries received by the British Museum from a wide range of professionals: designers, architects, conservators, collectors, curators, and showcase manufacturers, and indeed anyone involved in the task of creating a safe environment for precious objects. It has now been brought up to date and revised. It is not the intention to cover all the preventive conservation aspects of storage or display. The aim of this publication is to explain the background to why materials need to be tested for use with artefacts and provide a comprehensive test manual, including full test methods for evaluating storage and display materials, with the relative merits and drawbacks of each test discussed. Practical implementation of results is considered and methods to mitigate the effects of unsuitable materials are suggested.Lee, L.R. is the author of 'Selection of Materials for the Storage or Display of Museum Objects', published 2004 under ISBN 9780861591176 and ISBN 0861591178.