Eton College NHM: Insect Reconstruction

Even more improbable in large.

Today was my second day with the conservators in the NHM (see yesterday's entry). Today involved reattaching more detached butterfly abdomens, modelling new abdomens out of Japanese gampi tissue paper ("washi") and painting them, as well as remounting plants using plant-based adhesives and gampi paper (a novel approach, which seems more subtle than using micropore tape).

It was rather baffling to see the construction of a replacement abdomen (modelling series right from here; painting series right from here), and the delicate and artistic work more generally. It was also fun to photograph them under the bright halogen lighting.

My other lot of shots (several series) are on Flickr (at the top of this page, or right from "assessing a specimen").
Alternatives:
Comparing to the intact exemplar insect
Tweaking the position of the replacement abdomen
The art of conservation
Dappling the new abdomen