Objects (Archaeological, Ethnographic, Cultural)

Advice for your object might also be discussed in one of our other "Best Practices" topics, categorized by material type.

American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC)
AIC Objects Specialty Group Conservation WIKI a project of the AIC Objects Specialty Group
Some topics in the Objects Specialty Group Conservation WIKI

• Ethnographic Objects
• Basketry
• Lacquered objects
• Stone objects

Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI)
CCI Notes addressing Archaeological and Field Conservation (PDFs are available for each):

• N4/1 Identifying Archaeological Metal (2007)
• N4/2 Vacuum Freeze-drying Archaeological Artifacts  (2007)
• N4/3 Conservation of Wet Faunal Remains: Bone, Antler, and Ivory  (2007)

CCI Notes on Ethnographic Materials:

• N6/1 Care of Ivory, Bone, Horn and Antler (1988)
• N6/2 Care of Basketry (1988)
• N6/3 Care of Canoes, Kayaks and Umiaks (1989)
• N6/4 Care of Objects Decorated with Glass Beads (1994)
• N6/5 Care of Quillwork (1991)
• N6/7 Totem Poles Displayed Indoors (2008)
• N6/8 Totem Poles Displayed Outside (2008)

CCI Notes about Modern Materials and Industrial Collections:

• N15/1 Care of Objects Made from Rubber and Plastic (1997)
• N15/2 Care of Machinery Artifacts Displayed or Stored Outside (1993)
• N15/3 Display and Storage of Museum Objects Containing Cellulose Nitrate (1994)
• N15/4 Indoor Display of Industrial Collections (1998)
• N15/5 Lubrication for Industrial Collections (2002)
• N15/6 Trade Literature for Industrial Collections (2002)
• N15/7 Rubber Components in Industrial Collections (2002)
• N15/8 Outdoor Storage and Display: Basic Principles (2010)
• N15/9 Outdoor Storage and Display: Remedial Measures (2010)

Heritage Preservation, Save Outdoor Sculpture (SOS)

• Care resources for outdoor sculpture
• Resources downloadable PDFs, web links, books for sale

Midwest Art Conservation Center (MACC)
Resources MACC provides consultation and conservation treatments of objects, runs workshops, loans equipment and books, and has a list of available technical leaflets

National Park Service (NPS)

Conserve O Grams:
Ethnographic and Archaeological Objects::

• 5/1 Storage Supports for Basket Collections 1993
• 5/2 Storage Mounts for Feathered Headdresses and Soft-Sided Hats and Caps 1993
• 5/3 Internal Supports for Buckskin Clothing Storage 2011

• 6/1 First Aid for Wet-Site Objects 1993
•      6/1 Primeros Auxilios para Objetos de Sitios Anegados 1993 Spanish Version
• 6/2 Desalinization: Passive Alkaline Soak 1993
•      6/2 Desalinización: Baño en Solución Pasiva Alcalina 1993 Spanish Version
• 6/3 Testing for Chlorides with Silver Nitrate 1993
• 6/4 Making Percent Solutions of Chemicals 1993
• 6/5 Soluble Salts and Deterioration of Archeological Materials 1998
• 6/6 Long-Term Effects of Acid-Cleaning Archeological Ceramics 1999
• 21/16 Salvage at a Glance, Part III: Object Collections 2002

NPS Museum Handbook, Part I - Museum Collections:

• Appendix I: Curatorial Care of Archeological Objects (200K) 2001

• Appendix P: Curatorial Care of Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Objects (598K) 2000

Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (NET), Nebraska's PBS and NPR Stations
Saving Your Treasures: Other Organic and Inorganic Materials

Smithsonian Institution, Museum Conservation Institute (MCI)

• Caring for Antique Communication Devices: Phonographs, Radios, Telephones, etc.
• Caring for Dolls and Toys
• Caring for Musical Boxes
• Caring for Musical Instruments

Texas A&M University, Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation, Conservation Research Laboratory.
The Laboratory's on-line manual discusses many methodologies for conserving archaeological artifacts recovered from marine environments:
Adhesives and Consolidants