Megan - Why not use a synthetic material which approximates wool? I'm sure there are acrylics or some such thing out there you could use instead of real wool. After all, this is a demonstration of techniques and machinery. Having inspected several textile museums, I can tell you small bits of wool will invariably adhere to the machinery and end up infested witrh webbing clothes moths and carpet beetles.
Tom Parker -----Original Message----- From: Kaplan, Emily <kapl...@si.edu> To: 'pestlist@museumpests.net' <pestlist@museumpests.net>; pestl...@museumpests.com <pestl...@museumpests.com> Sent: Sun, Nov 29, 2009 6:44 pm Subject: RE: [pestlist] Using Raw Wool in Exhibit Space Hi, I would suggest freezing the raw wool as soon as it gets into the building in case it has an active infestation (bring it into the building in sealed plastic bags.) Best, Emily Emily Kaplan Conservator National Museum of the American Indian Cultural Resources Center 4220 Silver Hill Rd Suitland MD 20746 301.238.1418 fax 301.238.3201 kapl...@si.edu From: pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net [mailto:pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Megan Mcintosh Sent: Friday, November 27, 2009 4:32 PM To: pestl...@museumpests.com Subject: [pestlist] Using Raw Wool in Exhibit Space We are developing an exhibit about the woollen manufacturing industry at a small regional museum. We would like to include wool at various stages of development, starting with raw wool, to show to visitors how the machines process it. The curator is reluctant to use raw wool within the exhibit as someone told him a few years ago that it would attract pests, (though completed textile pieces are regularly displayed in the museum). Does anyone have advice on what could be done to treat raw wool so that it would not pose a threat to other artefacts in the space? If not, does anyone have ideas on how to realistically recreate wool? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Megan McIntosh (Student) Algonquin College, Applied Museum Studies
