Preserving and Exhibiting Jewelry from Mary Colter with Dr. Tara Travis

This webinar is brought to you by the Four Corners Lecture Series, Mesa Verde National Park, and the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.
Join us for a discussion of an ongoing project to conserve 317 pieces of southwestern Native American silver jewelry donated by architect Mary Colter to the Mesa Verde museum collection. These items were continuously exhibited since they were donated to the park and were identified as needing conservation treatment and improved preventive care. This talk will discuss how the jewelry was exhibited in the park; the agents of corrosion that contributed to their current condition; and the conservation treatments employed to reduce the corrosion layers present on the object surfaces. There will be examples of low, medium, and high polish along with examples of microclimate storage containers to slow future corrosion reactions. A discussion will follow with the audience on the best way to exhibit the jewelry in the future. Included in the presentation will be information from the park curator, project conservators, and Native American silversmiths. Before and after photographs of the silver jewelry will be included.