WASP NEST

Wasp nests are made of wood which is chewed by the wasps, combined with their saliva, to form a pulp. This pulp dries to form thin paper like walls. Sherborne Museum’s nest was large and extremely fragile with sections of walls actively flaking off the surface, especially when handled. This is an unusual object to end up in the conservation lab so I needed to think creatively about how best to treat it. Drawing on my previous experience working with a wide variety of different materials, I had two main questions – how to reattach loose fragments and how to support the object to prevent further deterioration.

In the past, conservators may have covered the entire object in an adhesive to prevent further flaking. However, ethical concerns have been raised about this approach. The treatments are rarely reversible and can alter the appearance of the object over time. Instead, I focused on a more localised application, carrying out tests on a number of different adhesives using already loose fragments of nest. I found an adhesive used in paper conservation gave the best results, applying small dots using a fine brush along the break lines of fragments. The repairs were strong enough to hold the fragments together and did not change the appearance.

To minimise handling I needed to create a mount that the nest could be transported and displayed in. Although I considered contemporary mounts made from acrylic, I had noticed that a static charge can build up, which may pull delicate areas loose. I chose a simpler approach, foam blocks placed in strategic locations and padded with wadding covered in a toned in fabric so they did not distract from the object surface.

Although I would describe the result of the treatment as a success, the object will continue to flake and deteriorate over time. This decision was made with the support of the museum and reflects the ephemeral nature of the object, adding an additional dimension to the story of a wasp nest.

For a list of references that I used in my research please click the following link