The conservation of a 19th Century giant deer display skeleton for public exhibition

Following a mishap, a 19th Century mounted giant deer was subjected to a detailed osteological assessment and conservation treatment which required both structura repair and the extensive modeling of broken and missing skeletal components. The historic mounting system and plinth were largely intact and structurally safe for the skeleton and so these could be retained along with any historic restorations deemed sound and non-damaging. The original skull suffered irreparable damage and both antlers were detached from the specimen. A replacement skull was acquired but it was necessary to attach the original antlers to the new skull in a manner both structurally sound and aesthetically accurate enough for the deer to be placed backon open display. After testing commonly used conservation-grade filler materials suitable for fabricating missing skeletal components, losses to the vertebra and the ribcage were re-built using epoxy resin bulked to putty consistency with phenolicmicroballoons and applied over barrier layers of Paraloid B72 and Japanese tissue. All losses were in-painted with earth pigments in Paraloid B72 before rearticulation. The unique role of this specimen determined the conservation approaches adopted and included a balanced consideration of conservation ethical concerns, client expectations, future structural stability, aesthetic impact and the limitations of the future display location.