Cavity Mounts For Safe Storage & Handling

Amy Davidson

American Museum of Natural History

cavity mount

thumbnail reference photos

matrix “handle”

access for fingers to pick up archival label thumbnail photos

correct depth

crushing and rubbing to soften

smooth side up

inserting a label

mylar film sleeve

Examples of other cavity mounts

paper labels

ink label

cut batting Tyvek

trace

cut top

cut side

padded tray

acknowlegements

• Many thanks to Fred Mullison of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences who in 1995 showed me his beautiful cavity mounts created for their historic Thomas Jefferson Mastodon, which were a revelation and an inspiration.

• Thanks also to Lisa Kronthal Elkin, Director of Conservation, Natural Science Collections, AMNH for reviewing my cavity mount designs, suggesting the thumbnail photos and for sharing designs and techniques she developed to create cavity mounts to house the AMNH wasp nest collection.

• Thanks to my colleague Carl Mehling for sharing his creativity and techniques.