the care of your feathers

THE CARE OF FEATHERS

The delicacy, resiliency, and exquisite beauty of feathers
have captivated people for centuries. Almost every culture
has used feathers in some manner to enhance personal
adornments, sacred or ritual objects, and decorative arts.
Feathers also have many functional uses, down comforters and
quill pens come readily to mind. Feathers are sometimes collected
individually for their inherent beauty. More often, feathers are
used in conjunction with other materials, sometimes as the focus of a
piece.
Standards for Preservation of Feathers:
• Minimal handling and dust protection are essential.
The following are tolerances for other environmental variables.
• Temperature: 60 degrees F to 75 degrees F
• Humidity: 45% to 55%
• pH: 6.5 to 7.5
• Visible light: 50 lux or less (the amount of light in a dim room)
• Ultraviolet light: 75 microwatts per lumen or less

excerpt taken from handout at the Bishop Museum Art Preservation

more about feathers::
Costume Gallery
Native American Visions