page_title: Mount maker
section_title: Responsibilities and duties
hierarchical_section_title: Mount maker / Responsibilities and duties
caption_attribution_description: English: Schwarzenbach Bowl, Germany. About 420 BC The openwork design shows characteristic early Celtic ornaments. The prototypes were palmettes and lotus-flower popular in Mediterranean antiquity. Original motifs were divided into individual leaves and the rearranged. The reason for displaying the ornaments on a bowl is still unknown, probably served as a drinking horn mounts. Normally Berlin. Exhibition: Kunst der Kelten, Historisches Museum Bern, Art of the Celts, Historic Museum of Bern.
context_page_description: A mount maker is responsible for the creation of structures called object mounts used to provide unobtrusive physical support, stability, and security of objects while on display, in storage, or being transported to museums, art galleries, libraries, archives, botanical gardens or other cultural institutions. Protection and long-term conservation of the object is a key goal of mount makers. This is accomplished through careful design, selection of materials and manufacturing process that will not inadvertently harm the object, and a cautious installation process of the object into its place in an exhibit. Professionals in this field can be employed directly by an institution, be independent contractors, or work as part of larger cultural institution exhibit design firms.
context_section_description: The primary responsibility of a mount maker is to provide safe and stable structural supports (also called mounts, brackets, or armatures) for a wide variety of cultural materials such as furniture, ceramics, paintings, sculptures, clothing, jewelry, aircraft, and machinery to be placed in storage, transported to another location, or for exhibition.  Providing form and stability alleviates stress placed on an object, "thereby preventing distortions, creasing, and eventual structural damage."   A successful mount will keep objects from moving in the event that an object's exhibit case is bumped or otherwise disturbed in addition to allowing visitors to view and interpret an object in new and unobtrusive ways.  The object should be the subject of the viewer's attention, not the mount; allowing as much visual access as possible.
  Mount makers work with two types of mounts; custom mounts and generic mounts.  Custom mounts are specially created to the exact dimensions, weight, and any specific stability or support issues in response to the preservation and conservation of a particular object.  The type and design of each custom mount is also determined by the budget and skill of the mount maker.  In contrast, generic mounts require only rough measurements of the object.  These general or prefabricated shelves, brackets, or stock forms can be purchased from museum or archival supply companies.
  Mount makers collaborate with registrars, exhibit designers, curators, lighting technicians, and installers to develop or select mounts for each object that will be displayed in an exhibit.  Mount makers also work "closely with conservators to learn the strengths and weaknesses of the objects and to find safe fabrication materials."  Some types of materials may include batting, cardboard, corrugated plastic such as coroplast, felt (polyester or acrylic), Foam Board (Foamcore), Gator Foam (Gator Board), muslin, Plexiglas, and some metals such as brass and steel.  Additional materials can include aluminum, stainless steel, acrylic, and resin.
caption: Ornamental gold mounts
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