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Treatment; 30 Aug 2019; Reattach steering oar to boat and reconstruct missing arm of standing figure (steersman).; Organics

Reason: Temporary Exhibition
Description: Additional information in form of historic drawings (see pdf file attached to this record), which a private collector from the Netherlands kindly shared with the BM in 2015, allowed to determine the likely position of the "long paddle" which seems to belong to the standing figure. The figure therefore appears to be the steersman and the paddle in fact the steering oar. The boat depicted in the drawings found in the book "De sluik-en kroesharige rassen tusschen Selebes en Papua" by J.G.F. Riedel from 1886 shows features that are very similar to the ones found on the BM boat. The detailed drawings show a standing figure holding a steering oar at the stern (rear or aft end), looking towards the cabin/bow of the boat. On the railing of the BM boat there is a bundle of fine plant fibres visible which indicate that a something was attached there previously. Also, the detached "long paddle" of the BM boat shows abrasion marks from contact with the railing. It is therefore possible to establish where the "paddle" must have been connected with the railing. The drawings give a clue of the appearance of the missing arm and the orientation of the "paddle", which can now be identified as a steering oar. In order to reinstate the steering oar on the boat it was necessary to recontruct the arm in order to have a second point of attachment to hold the oar in place. It was decided in agreement with curatorial to reconstruct the arm using Japanese tissue paper in order for the arm to be clearly distinguishable from the original material. Reconstruction of the arm: The arm consists of a paper twist with forms the core of the arm and three rolls of paper, wrapped around this twist to resemble cloves. The ends of the the twists were then attached to the shoulder of the standing figure and the top end of the steering oar using 10% w/v Klucel G in demin. water. In addition, a paper tab each was applied the shoulder on the back and the inside of the arm to reinforce the joints. Attachment of steering oar to railing: The very fragmentary fibre bundle was secured by supporting it from underneath with narrow strip of Japanese tissue paper. The fibres were then secured onto this base strip with two further, even finer strips. A mount for the steering oar was made of paper pulp (binder: Klucel G in water) and tied onto the railing with strong cotton thread. The purpose of this mount is to provide a protective layer between the railing and the paddle as well as to define the point of contact with the railing. The steering oar was then tied to this mount continuing to use the strong cotton thread with which the mount was attached previously. The treatment can be reversed (i.e. the arm removed) simply by undoing the sholder joint ising and cutting the thead which holds the paddle mount on the railing. Refurbishment of wooden storage support: The storage support was refurbished extensively in order to allow the boat to fit onto the support after the addition of the steering oar as well as to replace the previous, no longer adequate padding method consisting of degraded Polyurethane foam covered with polythene sheeting.
Details: Treatment

1 related objects

boat; model

Museum number: As1972,Q.1944 |
Production date: 18thC (late)-20thC (early) |
Production place: Made in:Maluku |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:IndonesiaFound/Acquired:Philippines

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