Bone Cleaning
We provide professional bone cleaning services, ranging from individual bones to complete skeletons, including non-bony parts such as horns, beaks and claw sheaths. We use a variety of cleaning techniques such as maceration and dermestid beetles which are used in museums and universities worldwide. Once cleaned, each specimen is degreased and whitened to ensure proper conservation and appearance. In addition, specimens can be coated with a protective finish, which is recommended if they are to be handled on a regular basis.
Skeletal articulation
We offer custom skeletal articulation services for every specimen we clean as well as for any other specimen that was cleaned by another party. We use a combination of wires and glues to ensure strength, durability and visual appeal all combined into high quality mounts. We favor modern and dynamic articulations to highlight the often incredible complexity and lifestyle of the animals we work on, however, we can also accommodate customer requests for specimens that are articulated the old-fashioned way, in a static posture and with visible armature similar to the exhibits in the Gallery of Comparative Anatomy at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris.
Chondrichthyans
Cartilaginous fishes (sharks, skates, rays and chimaeras) have a unique cartilaginous skeleton which is notoriously difficult to prepare due to its delicate nature. As a result, most skeletal specimens of these animals displayed in museums and collections are restricted to isolated sets of jaws. Here at Kraniata the preparation of cartilaginous skeletons is a specialty. We have developed our own techniques for the preservation of delicate and often neglected structures such as labial cartilages and sclerotic rings, and have the skills and experience to prepare individual or partial structures (neurocrania, vertebrae, etc.) as well as complete skeletal specimens that are durable and ready to display.
Fossil Preparation
Thanks to our academic background in vertebrate palaeontology, we have extensive experience with micro and macrofossil material, both in the field and in the lab. Tools and treatments (mechanical and/or chemical) will be selected based on the nature of the specimen, as well as its condition and intended use (research and/or display specimen, cultural artefact, private collection etc.). The finished piece will be consolidated to ensure durability. As we regularly work on unpublished specimens and undescribed species, we do not communicate on this kind of material until it is published in the relevant litterature.
Restoration
We have experience in repairing and restoring skeletal and fossil specimens and have the proper authorizations from the french department of museum collections to work on patrimonial and heritage specimens (mandatory in France). Our methods include dusting the specimens, eliminating organic pollution (fungi, traces of contamination from insects, rodents etc), filling cracks, consolidating bones and if needed we can replace missing parts using various techniques such as casting and 3D printing (the latter of wich is not done in-house). We also have experience in the re-cleaning and mounting of old and historical specimens and the professional network required to collaborate on higly complex projects.
Molding and Casting
Whether you are working with fossil or modern specimens, keeping the original may not always be an option. Such specimens can be molded and cast in a variety of materials to produce lightweight, durable and anatomically correct replicas that can be handled and studied without risking any damage to the original. Our process ensures that even the smallest anatomical details are faithfully reproduced, and replicas can be left unpainted or finished to be virtually indistinguishable from the original piece.
Clearing and Staining
Some vertebrates are too small to be skeletonized by traditional bone-cleaning methods. In this case, we use alcian-alizarin double staining, which can also be used to document the development of the skeleton in larger animals. During this chemical process, tissues undergo enzymatic digestion, after which the specimen is double-stained in blue (cartilage) and a deep red (bone) which allows for up-close examination of the skeletal pieces. This technique, dating back to the early 20th century is still widely used today. In addition to its usefulness in research, it has been the object of public interest and has featured in numerous exhibitions in recent year due to its aesthetic appeal.
Fluid preserved collections
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Fluid-preserved collections are often a sizeable part of scientific collections in museums and universities. Dating back to the 17th century, they are often associated with specific risk management and conservation issues. The preservative fluids used in these preparation are very diverse and often dangerous, and require a specific skillset and equipment to deal with.
We have experience with the preparation, maintenance and restoration of various fluid-preservation techniques and specimens.
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Courses and training programs
We regularly take part in training programs aimed at museum and university professionals (curators, technicians, restorators etc.) for introductory courses to osteological preparation and articulation and management of fluid preserved collections. Most of these courses are organized through the french museum office for museal cooperation and information (OCIM) and are housed but various museums, labs and universities.