Wet Specimen Re-Housing Project

Overview

ICS was commissioned by Shoalhaven City Council to re-jar and replace the spirit preservative for a collection of wet specimens known as the Jack Nicholson Collection, part of the Lake Tabourie Museum.

Originally preserved with formalin and stored in a mixture considered potentially carcinogenic, many jars had deteriorated and corroded, with discoloured preservatives and evaporated fluids leaving the specimens dry and brittle. 

The project aimed to ensure the preservation and safekeeping of the specimens to align with current best practice, including replacing the preservative with a 70% Ethanol in water solution.

Year

2023

Client

Shoalhaven City Council

Services

  • Museum and gallery services
  • Collections management
  • Hazardous material handling

Awards

Condition

Project activities

New jars with Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) seals were sourced, known for robustness, and used by institutions like CSIRO.

The specimens were carefully decanted and rinsed with demineralized water to cleanse them from the previous formalin solution. They were then re-housed in new jars with a 70% EtOH (in H2O) solution as a fixative, replacing formalin. Special care was taken to preserve labels.

The specimens were photographed in batches as part of the documentation process.

Due to the hazardous nature of the fluids, ICS undertook the re-jarring process safely in a fume-hood with air extraction and appropriate PPE. All previous jars and the formalin solution were disposed of responsibly.

Treatment

Before treatment

After treatment

Testimonial

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