1. Davina Kuh Jakobi Junior Conservator for Ship and Scale Models
The challenges of ship model conservation and research:
New routes in research and professional educational outreach programmes using ship models
Davina Kuh Jakobi Junior Conservator for Ship and Scale Models

2. Unique challenges of ship model conservation
Complex and challenging objects
Lack of literature and research
Lack of opportunities for initial and continual training
Lack of specialists and differing standards
Model of a three-masted screw steamer, c (NG-NM-4162 from the collection of the Rijksmuseum)

3. Background: forming an international collaboration

4. Importance of collaboration
Resource sharing
Complement individual skills found within each institution
Benefit to collections
Cross-promotion of programmes
Wider audience: larger professional network

5. International survey of institutions with ship models
Geographic region
Responses
Europe 18
United Kingdom 8
North America 13
Australia 2
Asia 1
Results

6. International survey of institutions with ship models

7. Who cares for ship models?
Conservators
AND
Model makers
Photo credit: Queen’s University (
Photo credit: Model Ship Builder online (
“Scientific” approach
“Craft” approach

8. Literature database Available:

9. What more can we do? Educational outreach programmes in ship model conservation
Public educational outreach
Professional educational outreach
Internship placements
Literature review
Workshops and courses
Conferences and lectures
Publications
Collaborative research and working
Remain connected!
Jeroen van der Vliet, former Curator for Maritime Collections at the Rijksmuseum, provides a tour of the Navy model gallery to participants of the Ship Model Conservation Course: Understanding Techniques for Research and Conservation at the Rijksmuseum ( 7-10 November 2016)

10. Ship Model Conservation Course (parts 1 & 2)
Jolanda van Iperen (Research Technician at the Rijksmuseum) demonstrates digital microscopy using the Hirox RH-2000.
Ship Model Conservation Course: Understanding Techniques for Research and Conservation at the Rijksmuseum ( 7-10 November 2016)
Glen Smith (Head of Organics Conservation at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich)
Ship Models: Care, Conservation, and Display (17-19 November 2015)

11. Importance of performing object-based technical research
To understand previous treatments and materials
For documentation purposes
Aid in conservation treatment decision-making
To understand historical methods Comparative analysis
Attribution
Public educational outreach
Professional educational outreach

12. Collaborative research and working: Hosting researchers and interns
Ton van der Horst, Conservator from Het Scheepvaartmuseum and Gwen Tauber, Paintings Conservator from the Rijksmuseum, examine a ship model from Het Scheepvaartmuseum using infrared reflectography (IR).
J. Riley Cruttenden, summer intern at the Rijksmuseum, examining a Napier-built model from the Rijksmuseum as part of his Master thesis at University of Glasgow. This formed the basis of a comparative analysis.
Hen van Kreulen, Senior Scientist from Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed (RCE) and Karen Jensen, Conservator from the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, examine a varnish sample from a ship model from the National Maritime Museum using gas chromotography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS).

13. Acknowledgements: Please feel free to contact me:
Jeroen van der Vliet, Senior Curator, Het Scheepvaartmuseum (former Curator for Maritime Collections, Rijksmuseum)
Robert van Langh, Head of Conservation and Research, Rijksmuseum
Glen Smith, Head of Organics Conservation, National Maritime Museum, Royal Museums Greenwich
Simon Stephens, Curator of Ship and Model Boats, National Maritime Museum, Royal Museums Greenwich
Karen Jensen, Conservator, National Maritime Museum, Royal Museums Greenwich
Birthe Christensen, Head of Conservation, National Maritime Museum, Royal Museums Greenwich
Oskar Brandenburg, Head of Archival and Collections Management, Noord Hollands Archief (formerly Head of Collections Management, Het Scheepvaartmuseum)
Emily Malcolm, Curator of Transport and Technology, Glasgow Museums
Paul van Duin, Head of Furniture Conservation, Rijksmuseum
A special thanks is extended to those institutions and individuals who participated in the survey and on the course (2016) and expressed an interest in the formation of a network of ship model collections professionals for their continued input and support.
Thank you to the ICMM organising committee and to our colleagues at the Chilean National Maritime Museum.
Please feel free to contact me: