The Art of Cleaning: A Comparative Look at Two Crow Skulls 🐦‍⬛

This post presents a reflective comparison between my first and second crow skull preparations. The original skull (2022) lacked a jaw, presenting a more basic preservation task. My second specimen (2024), gifted by my partner for our anniversary, included a complete jaw—allowing a more anatomically complete preparation. This comparison highlights how iterative practice and minor differences in material can influence curatorial choices, technical precision, and interpretive potential.

Key Skills Gained:

• 🖼️ Curatorial Practice – Comparative display to showcase anatomical variation, narrative curation demonstrating technical progression, and building thematically cohesive mini-series

• 🫙 Preservation & Management – Enhanced handling of delicate components, refined degreasing/whitening techniques, and structured processing workflows

• 🏛️ Museum-Relevant Skills – Conservation insight for anatomical specimens, educational curatorial perspective, and understanding collections processing standards

• 🧩 Problem-Solving – Innovating support techniques for fragile parts, streamlining processes through repetition, and making deliberate quality improvements

• 🎨 Professional Skills – Enhanced precision in handling, methodical workflow management, reflective practice through iteration, and communicating improvement visually

By preparing two crow skulls side by side, I witnessed first-hand how completeness, handling, and visualization evolve with practice. The second skull—with a complete jaw—allowed deeper anatomical engagement and presentation complexity. Together, they reflect my growth in technical skill, preservation knowledge, and curatorial thinking—qualities directly aligned with museum standards and object-based storytelling.

💀 See more on my Instagram: @BonesByShannon 🪲

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