Sharing Conservation Imaging Research with the Public

Abstract

ABSTRACT Conservation investigation often includes substantial technical analysis, and digital tools now permit visitor engagement with this content in museum galleries. Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) and 3D laser scanning were integral parts of a recent technical study of gilt metalwork performed on an early 19th-c. French table centerpiece at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (CHSDM). RTI permitted interactive viewing of surface textures to show toolmarks evident from manufacturing. 3D laser scanning allowed comparison of two closely related figures, one of which is believed to be a surmoulage (replacement cast) made from the other. While historical gilt metalwork has been the focus of conservation research for many decades, these digital tools both support innovative scholarship and provide an entry point for new audiences. CHSDM adapted these digital files to create an in-gallery interactive didactic, allowing visitors to learn more about the conservation project through self-guided content. Given an increasingly digital-savvy museum public, the exhibition didactic allowed the conservators to interface with non-specialists and created a precedent for similar collaboration.