The Challenge
To conserve and protect a large funeral bier, the size and shape of which creates issues with having it on open display, from potential damage due to visitor interaction.
The Solution
Clear acrylic barriers made with Optium Museum Acrylic®
Acrylic is half the weight of glass and shatter resistant
Safeguards against injury and damage to the fragile artifact and visitors.
Anti-reflective
Allows viewers to see the artifact without distracting reflections.
Anti-static protection exceeds that of glass
Immediately eliminates static charge so there is less cleaning.
Abrasion resistant
A durable hard coat protects against scratches from cleaning and general exposure to the public.
The Work
A funeral bier is a stand on which a corpse or a coffin containing a corpse is placed before burial. This object is from 1889 and comes from the surrounding villages of Southwick and North Bradley. The Funeral Bier had to be removed from display because of the damage caused by visitors touching and interacting with the object.
Thanks to the Tru Vue Conservation & Exhibition Grant, the museum was able to create a physical barrier with Optium Museum Acrylic that prevents children and visitors from touching the object while remaining invisible for the best visual experience.
More Info
Read the QuickVue article about this and other grant recipient projects.