Conservation and restoration of totem poles
Conservation activities include the historical research and context of totem poles, studying materials and manufacture, performing assessments, documentation and treatments.
This field can pertain to conservator-restorers, Native Americans, curators, collection managers, registrars, park rangers and city planners.
Totem poles "are more than works of art; they embody the culture of the Native peoples of the Pacific Northwest".
"In recent years more attention has been focused on understanding the perspective of the Native American culture in regards to totem poles, especially by conservators.
Instead of approaching the conservation of a totem pole with mere intellect some have turned to understanding the spiritual and ceremonial significance".
[3] The Totem Pole began being collected by many anthropologists and museums in the late 1800s and early 1900s, thus removing them from their original contexts.
Agents of deterioration that can impact totem poles are direct sunlight, moisture, fire, infestation, pollutants, fluctuating temperatures, relative humidity and theft and vandalism.
Outdoor poles that are exposed to agents of deterioration are affected year round by rain, pollutants, infestation and biological growth and light.
An 18-foot pole was stolen from a park in West Seattle, Washington by a man who had the vision of installing it in his front yard.
[9] During an assessment, time "may be spent photographing, taking condition notes, measuring cracks and probing the wood with an ice pick".
"Decisions about appropriate treatments and methods of preservation for individual artifacts therefore should be made by a conservator in consultation with experts in the culture".
Cleanings are important for removing any dirt, grime, grease, pollution or dust from the pole's surface.
In this situation, "it is probably better to cut the growth off flush with the wood, since pulling out big roots can cause more damage and create empty space for water to pool".
In a paper presented at the 42nd annual American Institute of Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works discusses the utilization of Butvar B-98 and Paraloid B-72 as the selected adhesives for consolidating splinters and detached fragments.
"The resistograph uses a very fine drill bit 20" long which gives graphic chart readings as it penetrates the wood".
It is difficult to mitigate against agents of deterioration such as rain, sunlight or fluctuating temperatures when a pole is displayed outdoors.
One method that has been used to prevent absorption of water at the end grain of the wood is through the fabrication of a custom fitting cap.
[10] It is recommended that if poles are stored or displayed indoors, then they should have minimal exposure to direct lighting sources.
There have been previous cases where restoration of a totem pole takes place in lieu of the preservation of existing materials.
