Protein Facts: Fibrous Proteins in Cultural and Natural History Artifacts

By Mary-Lou Florian

This book is designed to help collections managers, conservators, curators, collectors and students (of materials and material culture) to understand the properties of the materials (containing protein fibres) from which various objects have been manufactured. The author illustrates the wide range of historic, ethnographic and natural history objects, made of fibrous protein material, which is found in collections. She explains why understanding the chemical and phsyical structure of the fibrous proteins in a variety of materials (skin, leather, gut, muscle, teeth, bone, ivory, silk, fur, feathers, hair, horn, claws, nails, etc) is most important when considering optimum methods for their care, conservation treatment and preservation. Features of the structures of protein fibres uses to identify each material are discussed. The agents and symptoms of deterioration of fibrous proteins are covered, particularly those proteins (e.g. collagen, keratin, fibroin and myosin) found commonly in collections of cultural objects. This volume complements the author's Fungal Facts published by Archetype Publications in 2002.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1873132344
• ISBN13: 9781873132340
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: Archetype Publications
• Length: 168 Pages
• Weight: 0.93 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.0" x 9.7"