A NOTE ON THE CLEANING OF SHELL INLAY ON ETHNOGRAPHICAL SPECIMENS FROM OCEANIA

Abstract

Problems were encountered when preparing objects from the Pacific islands for exhibition. These specimens were of wood with shell inlay. Cleaning with non-ionic detergent and distilled water had no effect on the dull shell surface; solvents were little better;finally, glass fibre brushes were tried with very good results. Precautions should be taken when using glass fibre brushes; these include the wearing of protective gloves, dust masks, and the provision of a vacuum cleaner to remove fragments of broken glass fibre and dust from the shell surface.