How to Disassemble an Artifact

Recently, conservator Lisa May worked with the Museum’s Operational Services staff to smoothly disassemble an artifact so it could be moved out of a basement storage area. The artifact is a display case that came from a prominent Winnipeg business, Winnipeg Music Supply, which closed in 1984, at which time the display case was donated to the Manitoba Museum.

It was stored for many years at the Museum’s storage building on Lily St., in a basement room. In 2010, a pipe break and subsequent water infiltration led to the decision to remove all artifacts stored at basement level, due to concerns of a major mould outbreak (See blog post “Lily St. Storage Move”, Sept. 3, 2010). Every other artifact was removed from the basement, but this display case was too big and heavy to take out as it was. Finally, last month it was taken apart; and last week, it was hoisted up onto the main floor of the storage building.

Taking the case apart was no simple operation. Lisa and carpenter Marc Hébert spent considerable time examining the case to see how it was put together. Lisa drew a diagram indicating which areas should be worked on first, noting things to check as they went along.

First of all, the drawers and all separate pieces were removed. Then the interior display surface was removed, and next the marble trim from the bottom. The pieces were all numbered for ease of reassembly. Then the back was taken off, and the case lowered onto its back side. The top was carefully pulled off. After that, the sides came apart quite easily, and finally the two halves were separated from the centre column.

The pieces were lifted to the main level of the building using a hoist, and now sit waiting, with all the other artifacts, for the time when they will be moved into a different storage facility – for this building will be demolished to make way for a much-needed multilevel parkade.

Although a relatively small project, it required careful planning and many hands (and backs!) to accomplish without damaging the artifact. Our Operational Services staff are professional and experienced, but not conservators, so Lisa’s input and guidance was required. Everything went well, and we look forward to the day (coming soon, we think) when this case will be moved into an improved storage environment.

By Kathy Nanowin, past Manager of Conservation

The Manitoba Museum recently acquired a number of objects that add to an existing collection. The Wilson family collection of bottles and crocks is an extensive one, with over 1600 artifacts. The Wilsons contacted the Museum with an offer to donate a related collection of ceramic footwarmers and various Medalta ware. Curator Roland Sawatzky recommended we accept the offered items; the subject went to our Collection Committee, which approved it on the curator’s recommendation. Follow us now through the process of preparing for and completing the acquisition.

The boxes were put onto carts and brought into the Museum, into the elevator and up to the sixth floor History Lab.

With all items removed from boxes, the next step is to process them. Each must be assigned a catalogue number and entered into the collection database. They also must be physically numbered, catalogued, photographed, and condition reported, before being put into their permanent storage location.

The actual collection trip took approximately a half day. However, the preparation took about the same amount of time, and the next steps will be far more time-consuming. With cataloguing and condition reporting, many entries can be cut and pasted, and the conservators can use a checklist to speed the process; however, I still anticipate that the processing of these 150 or so objects will take person-hours adding up to weeks of work!

Unless you work in a museum, most likely you have no idea of the details involved in collections work. The steps I’ve described are required for all new acquisitions. This is a glimpse into the day to day tasks the Collections and Conservation department staff tackle, although it’s just one part of what we do.

Harry Finnigan, founder and principal of McKay Finnigan and Associates in Winnipeg, is recognized internationally as a leader in downtown revitalization.

Born and raised in Winnipeg’s inner city, he has extensive experience in community economic development, policy development, urban and regional planning, and project management.

Harry overcame initial adversities in Winnipeg’s inner city with his steadfast educational development, culminating in a Masters of City planning from the University of Manitoba. Harry used his knowledge to unlock the potential in the Winnipeg downtown core area for the enrichment of all its residents.

Harry’s continued legacy of community development can be seen in the oil capital of Edmonton, America’s most livable city Pittsburg PA, and even the Republic of Botswana. In the early 90’s he was instrumental in developing the Downtown Winnipeg Business Improvement Zone which we now know as the Downtown Winnipeg Biz. During his tenure as Director of the City of Winnipeg, Planning, Property and Development Department he played a pivotal role in the development of downtown’s new residential neighborhood “Waterfront Drive”.  

Harry is currently channeling his drive and experience into his own highly successful consulting firm, providing community enrichment where it’s needed most. Being a donor to The Manitoba Museum since 2004 and a Museum Tribute supporter, Harry also officially adopted the first artifact from the Museum’s Adopt an Artefact program.

Harry is continuing in the altruism that has governed his professional life by sharing a very unique and personal artifact and Heirloom from the famous Sitting Bull. This unique treasure was presented to Harry’s Grandmother Ellen Inkster as a gift by Sitting Bull himself in thanks for her kindness to him.

As seen in the June issue of Features Online:

In the 1960’s, my father wrote a short paper about the McKay family and their deep roots to the history of Western Canada. In it he mentioned that his father “soon learned to converse in the Sioux tongue and Sitting Bull told him much of his life story in the Northwestern States during those turbulent days. He presented my mother with his necklace of Grizzly Bear Claws, a symbol of authority only reserved for chiefs of high rank. In turn, my mother gave this relic to her uncle Sheriff Colin Inkster and at present I believe this is seen periodically in a glass case in the Winnipeg Civic Auditorium Museum”.

There are a few stories within the McKay family which have been passed down over the years about Sitting Bull’s necklace. They all affirm that it was given as a gift by Sitting Bull himself. One story has our grandmother sitting in the general store at Ft. Ellice when Sitting Bull walked in. She noticed the poor shape that his shoes were in so she offered him a pair of moccasins which she had made. He then gave her the necklace in appreciation of her gift. Another story suggests that the necklace was given by Sitting Bull as a gift for my grandparent’s wedding.

As chance would have it, in the early 1990’s I was invited to a small luncheon the purpose of which was to brainstorm ideas on how funds could be raised in support of The Manitoba Museum (then known as The Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature). Following the luncheon I mentioned to the then Director, that while through my family I was aware of a grizzly bear claw necklace in the Museum’s collection, I never had the opportunity to actually see it. I was encouraged to make arrangements to view the necklace through the Curator of the Native Ethnology Department at the Museum.

The viewing was organized for later that summer. I was joined by my sister Roberta McGillivary, her son Clifford, my wife Elvira, our son Shaun, and our friend (and photographer) Bill Eakin. We all followed up to the 3rd floor where the necklace was being kept in storage.

The white box containing the necklace was opened and voila – there it was! Roberta exclaimed: “That’s it, that’s it. I’ve heard so much about it! Can I try it on?” I turned to her and said: “Roberta, it’s a precious artifact, and this is a museum!” However, to my surprise the curator lifted the necklace from the box and gently placed it around Roberta’s neck. I immediately had this vision, or strange sense of a special moment from long ago – of Sitting Bull placing his necklace on my grandmother, Ellen Inkster. It was a powerful feeling and hard to explain.

Displayed below is the photograph of my sister Roberta wearing the bear claw necklace. After the meeting, I provided the curator with my father’s paper on the McKay family, as well as a few old newspaper clippings and other documents connecting Henry McKay with Sitting Bull reinforcing our interesting family history and connection of Western Canada.

“Every time I visit the Manitoba Museum, I make a point of going to the Parklands/Mixed Woods exhibit, where Sitting Bull’s Bear Claw Necklace is on permanent display. I am reminded of my grandmother and her connection to the iconic Aboriginal leader, Sitting Bull; and I think fondly of my sister Roberta who passed away on January 2, 2011. I am pleased to have been able to adopt this priceless artefact in her memory.”

Harry H. McKay Finnigan