Similar to bone, ivory or dentin is comprised of a mineralized collagen matrix. Composition Conservation Historical Use Case Studies Ivory Similar to bone, ivory or dentin is comprised of a mineralized collagen matrix. Previous Next Back to Materials Coming Soon We need you to develop new content for the ABM website. Please email info@artbiomatters.org or message in Slack if you are interested in building the ABM website. CITES Ivory Identification Guide This is the ivory ID bible. I use it every day in forensic casework. It's got a dichotomous key for determining species origin of ivory items seen in the trade. It's also been translated into Spanish (and some other languages I believe). Explore

An evolving list of current analytical approaches and protocols for the study of biological materials in cultural heritage: what each can and cannot do, the advantages, the limitations, and the deliberation told through case studies. If you have techniques to post, please email info@artbiomatters.org. EDUCATION Materials Materials Ethics Ethics Analytical Techniques Analytical Techniques Sampling Topics Sampling Topics ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES An evolving list of current analytical approaches and protocols for the study of biological materials in cultural heritage: what each can and cannot do, the advantages, the limitations, and the deliberation told through case studies. If you have techniques to post, please email info@artbiomatters.org . Coming Soon Coming Soon

Natural polymeric fibres used in textiles can have both plant (cellulosic) and animal (proteinaceous) origins. Composition Conservation Historical Use Case Studies Textiles Natural polymeric fibres used in textiles can have both plant (cellulosic) and animal (proteinaceous) origins. Previous Next Back to Materials Coming Soon We need you to develop new content for the ABM website. Please email info@artbiomatters.org or message in Slack if you are interested in building the ABM website.

Wood is produced by the stems and roots of woody plants such as trees and shrubs. Structurally, wood is composed predominantly of cellulose polysacchharid fibers and lignin (a natural polymer chain). Composition Conservation Historical Use Case Studies Wood Wood is produced by the stems and roots of woody plants such as trees and shrubs. Structurally, wood is composed predominantly of cellulose polysacchharid fibers and lignin (a natural polymer chain). Previous Next Back to Materials Coming Soon We need you to develop new content for the ABM website. Please email info@artbiomatters.org or message in Slack if you are interested in building the ABM website.

Many products can be made from animal skin, such as parchment, vellum, and leather. By treating the collagen matrix of skin with different chemical processes (i.e. lime, tanning, etc.), the properties of the skin can be modified. Composition Conservation Historical Use Case Studies Animal skin Many products can be made from animal skin, such as parchment, vellum, and leather. By treating the collagen matrix of skin with different chemical processes (i.e. lime, tanning, etc.), the properties of the skin can be modified. Previous Next Back to Materials Coming Soon We need you to develop new content for the ABM website. Please email info@artbiomatters.org or message in Slack if you are interested in building the ABM website.

Art Bio Matters strives to proactively support and engage a community of curators/cultural historians, scientists, and conservators through a dedicated website, Slack workspace, and biannual meetings. MEETINGS 2023 | On Site Event Past Meetings Sponsors ABM 2023 JULY 19-21, 2023 Hosted by the Institute of Fine Arts, NYU, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art ABM 2023 brought together a balanced community of experts for a dynamic forum for exchange. The goal of the ABM 2023 meeting was to nurture and grow the community that was established in previous meetings and through recent virtual programming. Key to the meeting was the updating of the website, which serves as a communication hub to identify connections between advanced scientific approaches (e.g., genomic, mass-spectrometry, antibody-based, and other techniques) and open research questions, thereby fostering focused and mutually beneficial collaborations, as well as providing educational resources. An important concern this year is also to secure funding for the continuation of ABM into the future. View meeting details PAST MEETINGS Art Bio Matters began assembling in 2018. You may view the details of our previous meetings here. If you would like to attend ABM meetings in the future, join the ABM community so you can hear the latest news from us. past meeting ABM 2021 The virtual ABM 2021 meeting aimed to bring together a balanced community of experts for a dynamic forum for exchange. The goal of the ABM 2021 meeting was to nurture and grow the community that was established in 2018. Key to the meeting was the development of an updated website, which will serve as a communication hub to identify connections between advanced scientific approaches (e.g., DNA, mass-spectrometry, and antibody-based) and open research questions, thereby fostering focused and mutually beneficial collaborations, as well as providing educational resources. View details ABM 2018 Art Bio Matters 2018 aimed to assemble, for the first time, scientists, curators/art historians, and conservators for a stimulating forum to explore new directions in the study of biological materials in works of art. Through guided and balanced discussions, participants identified connections between advanced DNA, mass-spectrometric, and antibody-based approaches and their own research questions, thereby, facilitating focused and mutually beneficial collaborations. View details sponsors SPONSORS A special thanks to the RLF for their support of Art Bio Matters.

A Cross-Disciplinary Hub for Biological Materials Research in Cultural Heritage ABOUT ABM Get in Touch Join the Community WHO WE ARE Art Bio Matters (ABM) is a dynamic and expanding gathering of curators, cultural historians, conservators, and scientists dedicated to exploring diverse research methodologies, perspectives, and objectives in the study of biological materials within cultural heritage collections. Here, your unique viewpoint is highly valued, whether you aim to enhance preservation, deepen analysis, or enrich interpretation. While rooted in the core disciplines of science, curatorial practice, and conservation, ABM enthusiastically embraces all participants interested in the exploration of cultural heritage studies. WHAT WE DO Art Bio Matters takes proactive steps to foster and empower a vibrant community of curators, cultural historians, conservators, and scientists through various platforms including a dedicated website, Slack workspace, and biannual gatherings. At artbiomatters.org, you can freely access educational resources, discover exciting opportunities, delve into descriptions of advanced scientific methodologies such as DNA analysis, mass spectrometry, and antibody-based techniques, explore historical and conservation materials, ponder open-ended research inquiries, and engage with emerging ethical considerations, among other offerings. We extend a warm invitation for you to join us, embark on a journey of exploration and learning, and share your invaluable expertise. As our website continues to evolve, we eagerly welcome suggestions and contributions to ensure that we effectively cater to the needs of our growing community. WHAT WE BELIEVE We believe that the identification and understanding of biological materials within collections is best achieved through active education and collaboration. In pursuit of this vision, Art Bio Matters (ABM) is guided by foundational principles that underpin our mission: Embrace the inclusive participation of specialists across all three disciplines—curatorship/cultural history, conservation, and science 1 2 3 4 Conduct candid evaluations of past projects, considering both logistical and aspirational aspects, to effectively prioritize crucial areas of study and optimize resource allocation. Cultivate curiosity, respect, and recognition for the invaluable contributions of each discipline to the field of cultural heritage studies. Foster an open environment in which the value of data from scientific analysis for non-scientific audiences is both debated and shared. By joining ABM, you gain access to our vibrant Slack workspace—a hub where you can connect with fellow members, engage in discussions on diverse topics, share noteworthy research findings, explore job opportunities, and stay informed about upcoming events. Additionally, you will receive exclusive invitations to our esteemed speaker series and updates regarding our highly anticipated biannual conferences. HISTORY OF ART BIO MATTERS Thanks to funding provided by the Richard Lounsbery Foundation, ABM organized the first meeting of its kind to purposefully bring together a balanced group of science, conservation, and curatorial/cultural history representatives for open discussion and debate about the contributions of advanced DNA, proteomic, and antibody‐based techniques to the study of biological materials found in cultural heritage collections. This innovative, by-invitation-only meeting, which brought together 40 international specialists was co-hosted by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and New York University. The ABM 2018 meeting was inaugurated by a public plenary session, Biological Material Matters in Works of Art, presented by Dr. Barbara Berrie , Head of Scientific Research, National Gallery of Art, Washington. Eight speakers were selected by a nine-person ABM 2018 Steering Committee to address pre-determined topics, including instrumentation, sampling techniques, and relevance to the information desired by conservators, historians, and curators. ABM 2018 resulted in the emergence of a cohesive and enthusiastic community, as well as the original artbiomatters.org website. It also accentuated the essential role of collaborative deliberations to maximize efforts to study, interpret, present, and preserve material cultural heritage. Advancements since 2018 have only reinforced the need for communication and continued discourse among all stakeholders. Engaging Dialogue Connection + Partnership Community Driven Why join the Art Bio Matters community? Members of the ABM community enjoy many benefits, regardless of their area of interest. Our website and Slack workspace have something for everyone: Access ABM 2018, 2021, and 2023 conference recordings and background materials. Anchor 1 Communicate through the ABM Slack workspace Connect with colleagues, discuss research questions, and network in the ABM Slack community. Visit our Join the Community tab for more information. Join the Community Participate in an ABM meeting ABM has biannual conferences sharing ongoing research through a dynamic forum of exchange. Visit the ABM Meetings tab for more information. ABM Meetings Build the ABM website We need you to develop new content for the ABM website. Please email info@artbiomatters.org or message in Slack if you are interested to do any of the following: Share a project Give a talk Provide a link to your publications, projects, or Opportunities to share with potential partners. Present an update on current projects through ABM's webinar lecture series. Educate and reach out Provide a link to a case study or video that applies to our Materials, Instrumentation, Ethics, and Sampling pages. Join and Help Build Art Bio Matters!

Lacquer is a hard coating applied to an object, often for decorative purposes. The materials and techniques of producing lacquer differ greatly by region. Composition Conservation Historical Use Case Studies Lacquer Lacquer is a hard coating applied to an object, often for decorative purposes. The materials and techniques of producing lacquer differ greatly by region. Previous Next Back to Materials Coming Soon We need you to develop new content for the ABM website. Please email info@artbiomatters.org or message in Slack if you are interested in building the ABM website.

Over time, dust, pollen, yeast, bacteria, etc. continue to be deposited and accumulate on the surface of objects providing a history of an objects lifetime since creation. Composition Conservation Historical Use Case Studies Surface History (Biome) Over time, dust, pollen, yeast, bacteria, etc. continue to be deposited and accumulate on the surface of objects providing a history of an objects lifetime since creation. Previous Next Back to Materials Coming Soon We need you to develop new content for the ABM website. Please email info@artbiomatters.org or message in Slack if you are interested in building the ABM website.

Plant fibers such as linen and cotton are made of cellulose, a natural polysaccharide, specifically a polymer of the sugar molecule glucose, produced by plants. Composition Conservation Historical Use Case Studies Plant Fibers Plant fibers such as linen and cotton are made of cellulose, a natural polysaccharide, specifically a polymer of the sugar molecule glucose, produced by plants. Previous Next Back to Materials Coming Soon We need you to develop new content for the ABM website. Please email info@artbiomatters.org or message in Slack if you are interested in building the ABM website.