Behind the Scenes at the Museum: The Costumes of the Dead and Decaying Specimens Handled by Curators

Introduction

Museum and gallery exhibition rooms are beautifully curated spaces. Paintings illuminated by spotlights, historical artifacts and specimens carefully arranged—visitors are captivated by their beauty.

However, behind the scenes, there lies an extraordinary world known only to curators. It contains things that the general public never touches, such as "costumes of the dead" and "decaying specimens," which are handled as part of daily operations.

The Work of Handling Costumes of the Dead

Historical museums and older art galleries sometimes handle costumes from the 18th and 19th centuries. While luxurious aristocratic dresses and battlefield uniforms may look glamorous at first glance, they are often plagued by insect damage, mold, and deterioration over time. Curators handle these costumes carefully while wearing gloves and perform preservation treatments as necessary.

There are various methods of preservation. Humidity and temperature are strictly managed, and insect repellents or desiccants are sometimes used. Checking the fibers of the fabric one by one to look for traces of insects or mold is a rather tedious and patient task.

However, through such work, we can preserve history for the future. Behind the glamorous exhibitions, such quiet battles are being fought.

The Battle Against Decaying Specimens

Natural history museums house specimens of animals, insects, and plants. Specimens deteriorate over time and can be accompanied by unique odors or discoloration. Old fish or bird specimens can sometimes emit strong putrid odors due to the degradation of body fluids or preservative liquids, and curators perform preservation treatments while enduring these conditions.

Chemical knowledge and technical skills are essential for the restoration and management of specimens. Tasks resembling scientific experiments, such as adjusting preservative solutions, drying, and re-fixing, are carried out behind the scenes of the exhibition rooms.

While beautiful specimens are displayed in the front, most visitors are unaware that a battle against decay is being waged behind the scenes.

Peering into an Extraordinary World

A curator's job is not just about creating attractive exhibitions.
By directly facing things that one would never encounter in normal life—such as costumes of the dead, decaying specimens, ancient documents, and skeletal specimens—they bear the responsibility of preserving cultural assets and the lives of nature for the future.

The fascination of this world lies in its realistic sense of the extraordinary. While feeling the traces of history and nature through the five senses—smell, touch, and the passage of time—they connect the past and the future through steady, diligent work.

For those interested in history, nature, and culture, the world of the curator is truly a treasure trove! Knowing about these extraordinary things behind the exhibitions will surely deepen the enjoyment of visiting museums and galleries significantly.
Behind the attractive exhibitions lies a world that is more exciting and geeky than one could ever imagine.