AIC's 44th Annual Meeting

This paper will examine some of the issues of adapting medical radiography to the examination of wooden artifacts, and explore and compare the usefulness of two three-dimensional radiological techniques, volume rad tomosynthesis and computed tomography (CT), for revealing tool marks and marks within joints on wild fowl decoys in Shelburne Museum’s collection. While digital radiography equipment has become more affordable to museums, the price tag still is out of reach for smaller labs. The conservators at Shelburne Museum turn to the radiological technologists at the University of Vermont Medical Center Hospital(UVMMC) to assist with non-destructive examination of composite objects and paintings. Because of their size, decoys are well suited for transport from the museum to the hospital for study. At UVMMC, the equipment the technologists use to take standard radiographs for the conservators also can be used for volume rad tomosynthesis, rendering the technique more accessible and convenient than CT which requires separate scheduling. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique will be explored.