MCI Project Summaries 2008 - Smithsonian Institution

MCI 6217.3 Chief’s Bag
MCI Staff: Carol A. Grissom, Genevieve Bieniosek, Jennifer Giaccai, Nicole C. Little
An African (Nuna [Gurunsi], Burkina Faso) bag made of tanned leather with flap, closure
and strap, decorated with tooling, leather fringe with cowrie shells, wooden whistles and carving,
iron tweezers, and iron picks was acquired by the National Museum of African American
History and Culture. White spew, present over much of the leather on its front and in areas of the
back and fringe, was visually disfiguring and needed to be removed. Analysis of the white spew
showed it was composed mainly of fatty acids, which could result from the tanning process or
post-production application of leather dressing/conditioner. An initial cleaning by mechanical
means and, in a few places, with Stoddard solvent removed all visible spew. However, after one
week white spew reappeared in multiple areas on the front and back of the bag. Analysis showed
the new spew had a similar composition of fatty acids. The bag was again mechanically cleaned
to remove the majority of the spew. Reappearance of spew cannot be prevented without causing
serious damage to the object, and so it was put in storage with the understanding that future
outbreaks may occur.
Front and back of bag before cleaning
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