School of Historical and Philosophical Studies - Theses
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ItemBeyond the pale of the law : refugees and the myth of human rights(University of Melbourne, 2010)
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ItemNo Preview AvailableAnalysis of a collection of 300 convict love tokens dating from roughly 1780 to 1840.( 2010)Between 1788 and 1868, over 160,000 British convicts were transported to Australia. For those affected, transportation to Australia was not only a dangerous exploit, but also often meant eternal separation from their loved ones; a social death, in essence. Prior to transportation, and as a final attempt to remain alive in the memories of their partners, friends and family, many convicts forged love tokens in prison gaols and workshops. These were purportedly copper 1797 George III cartwheel pennies abraded-down for a smooth surface and engraved with forget-me-not messages of the day. The National Museum of Australia recently acquired the largest known collection of convict love tokens, which is comprised of over 300 objects. Australia's convict history is of considerable social significance, and therefore an analytical survey was undertaken within the conservation department at the NMA to elucidate potential source materials and tools employed during the manufacture of these love tokens. In many of the tokens, visual evidence of the source material's previous function had been removed, and with others their physical properties did not correspond to that of a 1797 George III penny. A Bruker Tracer III-V Handheld X-Ray Fluorescence analyzer was used to survey the elemental composition of 111 love tokens in the NMA's collection, which were then compared to the composition of known coins from the period. This thesis discusses the relative heterogeneity of convict love token source materials, explains the presence of anomalous elements in several of the objects and describes the discovery of iron residues evident in several of the engraved surfaces - likely remnants from the manufacturing process. This offers insight into the materials and tools available in English gaols and hulk ships, and more generally, the improvised ingenuity of disadvantaged English convicts.
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ItemEfflorescence & mould on wax objects: identification and conservation implications( 2010)Wax has been utilized by man as a means of artistic, religious, and scientific expression for thousands of years. Wax objects are thus often abundant in museums and private collections, making up a significant part of our cultural history. The 'lower limbs' and the phonographic cylinders, which are the focus of this study, represent such objects within the University of Melbourne's collection, reflecting the diverse use of wax as a medium through which both the subtleties of sound and the human body have been expressed. However, despite their significance, the literature has shown that the deterioration processes of wax objects are often misunderstood, with wax objects often assumed to be relatively inert and unchanging. The stability of wax comes into question when individuals are faced with wax objects that are undergoing a serious deterioration process, resulting in a 'white substance' on the wax's surface. This substance, which has been shown by literature to often be comprised of fatty acid or paraffinic hydrocarbons, is often misidentified or assumed to be mould, due to the visual similarities of these two processes on first examination. Such mistakes can lead to ill-informed management and treatment of wax objects, resulting in a waste of time and resources, as well as potentially causing damage to the objects themselves, leading to a 'conservation disaster.'Such 'white substances' were identified on both the 'Lower Limbs' and the phonographic cylinders, and were resulting in significant damage to these objects. This study therefore aimed at identifying the white substance on these objects, so that informed recommendations can be made in relation to their treatment, storage, and display. This study accomplished numerous outcomes. Firstly, it identified the white substance on the lower limbs as a fatty acid, specifically, stearic acid, thus supporting the literature that efflorescence is commonly comprised of this material. Secondly, it has shown that the 'white substance' on the wax phonographic cylinders, which was initially reported as mould, and visually appeared to be consistent with fungal degradation, was not mould at all, but rather was comprised of organic hydrocarbons, and possibly of metallic soaps. Such identification illustrates that assumptions should never be made about the composition of 'white substances' on wax objects, as initial visual analysis can be misleading. Finally, this study acts as a means of increasing awareness of how and why wax deteriorates, and offers extensive descriptive and visual sources as a reference for individuals attempting to identify efflorescence or mould on wax objects. This will, hopefully, result in an informed approach to the management of wax objects, which will see them survive to be enjoyed for generations to come.
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ItemEstablishing the conservation and preservation needs of thylacine specimens held in australian collections through significance, risk and condition assesments( 2010)Thylacines - Thylacinus cynocephalus - are perhaps the most well known and mysterious Australian extinct species. They are famous for having been vilified and persecuted in life - that persecution being a major factor in their eventual extinction - then becoming an iconic symbol of environmentalism and biodiversity. Thylacine specimens and objects made from thylacine parts are held in museums worldwide. This thesis establishes that thylacine specimen material is highly unique and significant for historical, cultural, educational, social, and scientific reasons. As an extinct species thylacine specimen material is irreplaceable. Yet despite their significance thylacine specimens are not given priority status in collections for conservation or preservation care. The research verifies that thylacine material faces similar risks to that of other vertebrate material in natural science collections, and exhibit deterioration as a result of those hazards. It is likely the majority of extinct, rare, and endangered species material face similar risks. Natural science specimens, especially thylacines and other extinct specimens, are assuming greater educational, cultural and scientific importance as the world faces the ongoing environmental crisis affecting climate and biodiversity. The thesis establishes that their significance should afford thylacines the highest priority status for optimum conservation and preservation care, and that other irreplaceable extinct, rare, and endangered species material should also be considered for higher priority status. The thesis findings suggest future research should investigate the development of national or international guidelines to protect extinct, rare, and endangered species material.
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ItemBark paintings and orchids: a technical discussion of orchid juice binders and the conservation of bark paintings from arnhem land and the surrounding islands.( 2010)Bark paintings form a significant portion of collections, both public and private, in Australia and internationally. Considering their cultural significance both to Australian Indigenous culture and Australian society at large, and that they are widespread and suffer complex conservation issues, a relatively small body of literature is available dealing with their materials and techniques, mechanisms of degradation and the ethical issues surrounding their conservation. This thesis aims to consider the materials and techniques of bark paintings with a particular focus on the use of orchid juice, as this has been identified as the most commonly used natural binder used in bark paintings throughout Arnhem Land and the surrounding islands. Acclaimed Indigenous artist Wukun Wanambi was interviewed to provide insight into the preparation and use of this material from an artist's perspective. The degradation and conservation issues relating to the use of orchid juice as a binder as well as a review of the analytical scientific work already carried out on orchid juice binders will also be considered with reference to its potential application in a conservation context.
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ItemInvestigation of the suitability of current collection management and documentation process utilised within cultural institutions in regards to artworks which actively utilize artificial light as a medium.( 2010)The following paper examines the conservation concerns of documentation and preservation of artificial light based technologies as a medium. The unique technological and formal qualities of this medium are problematic to the more traditional and conservative conservation approaches, as replacement or modification of components, or in exceptional cases, the whole artwork, can be required to conserve it. This is symptomatic of numerous contemporary artworks which utilise materials which are manufactured for industry rather than artists. As a result these materials have a limited existence as they; degrade, are designed to be replaced or are superseded by new technologies. Intervention by conservators to repair or substitute these materials with alternatives can directly impact upon the colour, intensity, wavelength and resolution of the emitted light. Therefore, development of methods and techniques to fully document the artwork is fundamental to observing the deterioration of the artwork and making decisions on its conservation. Furthermore, comprehensive documentation can be used if the artwork needs to be re-installed or re-created in-situ or at a different location. These innovative documentation practices require conservators to re-evaluating their existing physical documentation practices, and modify them into a flexible and systematic approach, in a similar way physical tools are modified for treatments.
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ItemEnamelled copper jewellery: materials, techniques and conservation concerns.( 2010)In the mid twentieth century, enamelled copper jewellery making emerged as a popular craft among hobbyists. This thesis examines enamelled copper jewellery produced in the period c.1948 - 1975 in terms of its history and significance, the materials and techniques used in the jewellery's fabrication, common forms of damage found in this type of object, and conservation/restoration methods that can be applied. Ethical and philosophical issues surrounding the conservation and restoration of modern jewellery are also investigated. Within this thesis, a private collection of thirty-seven jewellery pieces by American commercial jewellery designer Renoir of California (c.1948 - 1964) and Australian artist Terrence Broderick (c.1967-75) is examined as a case study. Treatment is carried out on three select pieces. Enamelled copper jewellery as an object type and enamelled copper as a material type have not previously been examined in the field of conservation. This thesis critically examines enamelled copper jewellery in order to provide a greater understanding of this type of object and to contribute to its conservation and ongoing integrity.
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ItemThe conservation treatment of bones with a high lipid content( 2010)Bone is a complex biological material that is both organic and inorganic in its elemental composition that in life serves the vertebrate species as a physical support and a centre of cell transfer and creation. In death, bone loses some of its organic elements but still retains some biological material and as such is a complex material that is subject to continual changes even after preservation. This paper examines the behaviour of bone in museum environments; specifically the bones of marine species in natural science collections whose biological properties lead them to leach lipids continuously throughout their life. This thesis is an attempt to understand the physical, chemical and biological properties of both marine mammalian and fish bone, and advocate for a form of treatment that is tailored to its unique properties and associated problems. In relation to this thesis, information generated by the earlier treatment of a large skeletonised snapper skeleton that was conserved as part of a major project in March - August 2010 will be examined. The treatment involved various steps, with one major aspect becoming the treatment of oily residues on the bone surface. Another aspect of the treatment was the use of Synperonic A7 to clean the oily tacky material from the bone surface. The properties of Synperonic A7, its suitability for the treatment of bone, and its controversial properties will be discussed. The surfactant's effectiveness on salt efflorescence - a common problem associated with marine skeletal specimens - will also be examined.
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ItemThe conservation and restoration of simple system flutes in collections( 2010)Within the conservation profession, there is little engagement with the conservation and preservation of simple system flutes. As complex composite objects, which have often been subject to substantial stresses during their working lives, they present considerable physical and ethical concerns to the conservator. Yet as composite objects they are well within the conservators traditional skill set and may be treated as such. This thesis outlines the materials and techniques used in the construction of simple system transverse flutes, identifies the key causes of deterioration, outline current restoration and conservation techniques used on flutes in collections and develops recommendations for their conservation and treatment that conform to current codes of ethics and standards of practice. In doing so this thesis aims to increase conservators' engagement with flute collections and encourage collaboration with restorers to develop a community of professionals interested in the preservation of simple system flutes, thereby improving the way these collections are preserved.
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ItemA stick will be necessary for the last group: instructional texts for the sewing of Islamic manuscripts 11th- 17th c.( 2010)The intention of this paper is to examine the translated source material available on Islamic book sewing, and assess the differences in techniques described within the instruction manuals. A clearer 2 understanding of variation in didactic literature will assist in correlating sewn structure with specific periods of decorative binding. By developing a notation system for recording and analysing sewing in the university's Middle Eastern manuscripts, conservators will facilitate the description of items, as well as create a body of knowledge tracing the relationship of surface decorative technique with the mechanics of construction. It is hoped that by recording this information the use of the collection will be enhanced for researchers in the development of the book and may make some contribution to knowledge in the field.