Victorian Historic Skeleton Project
Donation protected
- THE VICTORIAN HISTORIC SKELETON RESTORATION PROJECT -
The Bones
Recently rediscovered, this Victorian era skeleton and former teaching specimen has spent its time in the basement of a hospital before being reclaimed by a private collector. Anonymous and without a past, these bones have been left dissasembled to fade into the obscurity of history without a chance for their story to be told. That's where this project begins.
The Goal
Through the funding of this project, the money donated will be used to secure the skeleton from the collector currently in posession. Once the bones have been acquired, the remaining funds will be used towards their cleaning, restoration and articulation. In addition, experts in the fields of forensic osteology, pathology and history have been lined up to consult and help determine their approximate age, gender, and medical history so that their story can finally be told, and their remains respectfully preserved and maintained.
The Process
The process of restoration and preservation for medical antiquities is one rarely seen outside the world of museums. In addition to the above, funds will be set aside to document the entire process of cleaning, wiring, assembly and articulation as well as the process of identification and discussion with the experts consulted. In total this will become a video and photographic archive of the process through which not only a piece of medical and personal history is preserved but the story of a previously nameless, faceless individual is told.
The Timeline
The priority at this time is securing the bones before they're sold on. The collector/seller is willing to part with them for a price, but has offered them up to other buyers. Once they've been secured, the multi-month process of delicately cleaning, consulting, preserving and mounting can start, and, camera in hand, the journey of uncovering the life of a Victorian lost to time can begin.
The Bones
Recently rediscovered, this Victorian era skeleton and former teaching specimen has spent its time in the basement of a hospital before being reclaimed by a private collector. Anonymous and without a past, these bones have been left dissasembled to fade into the obscurity of history without a chance for their story to be told. That's where this project begins.
The Goal
Through the funding of this project, the money donated will be used to secure the skeleton from the collector currently in posession. Once the bones have been acquired, the remaining funds will be used towards their cleaning, restoration and articulation. In addition, experts in the fields of forensic osteology, pathology and history have been lined up to consult and help determine their approximate age, gender, and medical history so that their story can finally be told, and their remains respectfully preserved and maintained.
The Process
The process of restoration and preservation for medical antiquities is one rarely seen outside the world of museums. In addition to the above, funds will be set aside to document the entire process of cleaning, wiring, assembly and articulation as well as the process of identification and discussion with the experts consulted. In total this will become a video and photographic archive of the process through which not only a piece of medical and personal history is preserved but the story of a previously nameless, faceless individual is told.
The Timeline
The priority at this time is securing the bones before they're sold on. The collector/seller is willing to part with them for a price, but has offered them up to other buyers. Once they've been secured, the multi-month process of delicately cleaning, consulting, preserving and mounting can start, and, camera in hand, the journey of uncovering the life of a Victorian lost to time can begin.
Organizer
Christian Fox
Organizer
Salt Lake City, UT
