Feathery Fun - The Care and Conservation of Feathers
Care and Preservation of Feathers
Background Knowledge
Should dirty feathers on an artwork or object be cleaned?
Sometimes, the dirt on old objects, like a feathered headdress used in ceremonies, tells part of their story. Or on some artworks or objects, the artist or creator has applied dirt, glue or paint to the feathers intentionally, or wants the feathers to look worn and dirty. It might not be a good idea to clean these feathers because what looks to us like "dirt" could be important to the message of the artwork or object.
Cleaning anything can wear it down a little, even feathers. If the feathers are fragile, it's better to leave them dirty than risk damaging them by cleaning.
In the past, people often used pesticides on feathers to keep bugs away. If we don't know whether an object was treated with pesticides, it could be dangerous to clean it. Sometimes, you might see white powder on the feathers, which could be from those old pesticides.
It's usually best to avoid using any water or liquids to clean feathers. Getting them wet can change their shape, make colors run or fade, and even ruin the way they shine or their special color effects.
What materials and tools do conservators use to clean feathers?
To clean a feather safely, conservators start by placing it on a clean piece of blotter paper for support. If we are working with a feather that's part of an object, like a costume or a decoration, we will try to gently slide the blotter paper underneath the feather without damaging the item.
Conservators generally wear gloves to protect both our hands and the materials we’re working on.
Special vacuum cleaners allow us to set the speed and intensity of the vacuum, and include a HEPA filter for the safest and cleanest result. We will often cover the vacuum opening with cheesecloth or nylon stockings to keep any loose parts of the feather from being sucked up.
After vacuuming off the loose dust, we can use a makeup sponge to carefully clean the feather more thoroughly. The sponge should be new and free of any makeup or additives. These sponges can be cut and shaped to fit into smaller spaces.
How do you groom feathers?
“Grooming” a feather can make it look nicer by helping the tiny parts that zip together, called barbules, realign and stick to each other again.
You can groom a feather with your bare hands, just make sure they are clean first. Normally, oils from our hands can damage some items, but for feathers, these oils are similar to what birds naturally use to preen themselves when they are alive. Using your bare hands also lets you handle the feather more carefully than if you were wearing gloves.
If you need to, you can also use a bamboo skewer to gently help straighten and align the feather. Be careful not to push too hard to avoid damaging the feather.
What is the best way to store artworks with feathers?
Storing feathers the right way is key to keeping them in good shape for a long time. Using a storage box is great because it shields the feathers from light and dust, and it helps keep the temperature and humidity around them steady. The box should be just the right size—not too big and not too small—and made of materials that won’t turn acidic over time.
It’s better to use special archival boxes and tissue, which you can buy, instead of regular cardboard or wooden boxes. That’s because ordinary boxes might release gases or become acidic, which can harm the feathers (Figure 6).
If you can, try to keep the area where you store your feathers between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 45% to 55%. This helps ensure that the feathers stay in the best condition possible.