Specimen Preparation: Reframing Project – Cicada & Gecko 🪲🦎

This project is my first time framing specimens — I've reframed my Ghost Cicada and Flying Gecko specimens using archival-grade materials that both protect and honour their natural beauty, while developing my Natural History archival knowledge. The new frames feature acid-free white matboards and black paper backing, all carefully sealed with acrylic varnish to guard against mould, dust, and pests. I used museum putty for gentle, reversible mounting, arranging the specimens alongside delicate pressed flowers and leaves to create a living, textured story in each frame.

🧰 Materials and Equipment:

• 🖼️ Black Deep Photo Frames

• 🧩 Museum Putty (for gentle, reversible mounting)

• ◻️ Archival White Matboards (acid-free, for the frames' backing)

• 🖤 Archival A4 Acid-Free Black Paper (acid-free, for the frames' backing)

• 🧴 Archival Neutral pH Adhesive (acid-free and safe for long-term preservation)

• 🌿 Archival Acid-Free Acrylic Varnish Matte (to seal and protect surfaces)

• 🖌️ Flat Paintbrushes (for applying varnish with care)

⚙️ Preparation Process:

Step One: Frame Preparation -

• 🧹 Clean the Frames: Removed dust thoroughly inside and out to create a pristine environment for preservation.

• ✂️ Cut Matboards and Black Paper: Precisely size archival white matboards and acid-free black paper to fit each frame perfectly.

• 🧴 Glue Pieces Together: Assembled with neutral pH adhesive safe for long-term preservation, then allow to dry completely.

• 🖌️ Seal with Varnish: Applied a protective layer of archival acrylic varnish to guard against mould, dust, and pests, then dried fully.

Step Two: Specimen Preparation -

• 🫧 Sterilisation: Soaked the specimens overnight in a sealed container with a solution of 70% alcohol and warm water to disinfect gently and effectively.

• ✨ Positioning: Lay each specimen flat on acid-free paper, carefully extending limbs and wings to their natural pose.

• 📍 Pinning the Specimens: Using entomology pins to carefully position insects for stable and visually balanced displays.

• 🦋 Fixing the Cicada’s Wing: Used neutral pH adhesive to repair and stabilise wings.

• ☀️ Air Dry: Allowed the specimens to dry for about a week in a well-ventilated, low-humidity space to prevent mould and maintain integrity.

• 🌸 Select Decorations: Allow specimens to dry for about a week in a well-ventilated, low-humidity space away from direct sunlight to prevent mould and maintain integrity.

Step Three: Varnishing the Flying Gecko -

• 🎨 Protective Coating: After the gecko dried completely, applied two thin, even layers of archival, acid-free acrylic varnish to both sides to enhance texture, seal the surface, and provide sustainable protection.

Step Four: Display Process -

• 🧩 Place the Specimen: Mount each specimen gently on archival black paper using museum putty, allowing for safe, reversible positioning.

• 🖼️ Finish Composition: Arranged pressed flowers and natural elements, creating a living, textured story within the frame.

• 💧 Add Silica Packets: Place silica gel packets behind the matboards to gently absorb any excess moisture trapped inside the frame. Will need to replace the packets periodically to maintain their effectiveness.

Ghost Cicada 🪲🤍

While studying at the University of Gloucestershire, I discovered this stunning female Ghost Cicada (Ayuthia spectabile) at the Gloucester Antiques Centre. When I first bought it I kept it displayed unframed and had sadly lost a leg and suffered wing damage, I knew that properly framing it would honour and preserve it for long term and prevent further damage. This specimen originates from Malaysia, but other than I don't know anything about its history.

To complement the cicada, I chose Darwin’s Barberry, a plant pressed from branches my partner gathered for me during our time in Cheltenham. I carefully arranged two branches to frame the cicada, then used fallen flowers to artfully fill the gap in its right wing, glueing them underneath to create the illusion of a full wing. This subtle restoration not only restores visual balance but also weaves together nature, memory, and artful design.

Female Ghost Cicada - Bought: 10/06/2022 - Gloucester Antiques Centre - Framed: 10/02/2026

Darwin's Barberry - Picked and pressed: 27/03/2024 - Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Mummified Kuhl's Flying Gecko 🦎💚

Also from the Gloucester Antiques Centre, this Kuhl's Flying Gecko (Ptychozoon kuhli) was a self-birthday gift in October 2023. I kept this unframed and sadly suffered mould and pest damage to its upper right claw and the right torso frill. Now, safely framed, it’s protected from further harm, preserving the specimen is a tribute to this remarkable South East Asian gecko species.

To complement the gecko, I chose: an Elephant Ears plant leaf from my mum's house plant, a Bluebell stem that was growing in my uni house's garden in Cheltenham, and a Grape Hyacinth stem from my time living in Cheltenham.

Faded yet full of life—this gecko specimen paired with pressed flowers creates a delicate, timeless vignette. Together, they represent beauty and nature's changes beautifully.

Female Mummified Kuhl's Flying Gecko - Bought: 08/10/2023 - Gloucester Antiques Centre - Framed: 13/02/2026

Leaf of an Elephant Ears plant - Picked and pressed: 08/2024 - House Plant: Kirk Hallam, Derbyshire

Bluebells - Picked and pressed: 13/04/2024 - Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Grape Hyacinth - Picked and pressed: 27/03/2024 - Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

I’m so happy with these specimens now housed with the care and respect they deserve. Framing them with archival materials not only protects their physical integrity but also develops my own journey in natural history preservation and preparation.

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