Short Communication: Receiver Systems for Object Mounts: a Design Concept for Safe Installation and Display Flexibility
Jamie Hascall · Journal of the American Institute for Conservation · 2012
The installation of an object in a museum exhibition may require the use of a custom mount to properly support the object and to securely attach it to the display substrate. The connection of the object to the substrate often can be done simply and directly using a post or structure that is integral to the mount. However, in situations where the object must be held for seismic stabilization or when other needs must be addressed, the use of a two-component mount/post design can allow the safe installation of the mount onto the object and the post to the display wall or deck. The mounted object is then joined to the post to complete the installation in a predictable fashion. This two-component system was termed a receiver by the Mountmaking Department at the Seattle Art Museum and has proven to be a valuable concept for the safe installation of museum objects. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the receiver system in various applications.