top of page

Treatment of the Gitxsan Pole White Owl

Object: Monumental Carving ("totem pole"
​
Cultural Group: Gitxsan
​
Date: Erected 1840 (est) collected early 1900s
​
Complete

Overall View

Before Treatment

GX_161_1814A_WhiteOwl_Deinstall_01_20190
161_1814A_b005.jpg
Materials: West coast cedar, pigment
​
Collection: American Museum of Natural History
​
​
​

Detail of the Proper Right Side

Before Treatment

After Treatment

IMG_9194_edited.jpg
Treatment Overview

​

  • Consultations with Gitxsan advisors

  • Surface cleaning

  • Removal of prior fills

  • Overpaint reduction

  • Consolidation of rotten wood

  • Removable epoxy fills​

  • Texturing and inpainting epoxy fills

​

Overpaint reduction on the lower section of the pole.

Condition
161_1814A_DT_2019_02.JPG

Darkened coatings of cellulose nitrate from previous restoration.​ Discolored, glossy overpaint.

161_1814A_PR_BT_2019_wingupperowl_00.jpg

Highly worn or rotten wood.​ Original paint worn away from exposure to the elements. Failing fills in cracks from previous restoration.

161_1814A_interior_DT_2019_6.jpg

Extensive cracking, including two cracks extending the length of the pole. Cracks exhibit pre-collection repairs.

Treatment

Click image below for treatment details

After Treatment
16_1814A_DT_2019_02.jpg

Detail of the Fill to the Proper Right Side of the Lower Owl. Normal Illumination. After Treatment.

bottom of page