Removing adhesive from installed artifacts

[Kristy Sorensen]

Our museum is currently undergoing a major expansion and we are de-installing exhibits that were put in place in the early 1990s. I have found that many of our archaeological artifacts were mounted to the bottoms of educational pull-out drawers with some kind of adhesive for which we have no records – not sure if it is glue or quake wax. Any suggestions on how to safely remove glue from bone and ceramic artifacts? Will mineral spirits applied with a Q-tip damage these materials?

[Author]

Posts