Nitrogen Anoxia Research (1987-1999)
 
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In 1993 Getty staff assisted the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in treating Back Seat Dodge '38 (1964), a sculpture by Edward Kienholz in LACMA's collection. Suffering from an infestation of cloth moths, the artwork was treated using nontoxic eradication methods developed by the GCI. Photo: Shin Maekawa.

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Back Seat Dodge '38 undergoes treatment at LACMA. For several days, humidified nitrogen was pumped into a large, custom-made, oxygen impermeable bag that enveloped the sculpture. This safely and effectively eliminated the infestation problem. Photo: Shin Maekawa.

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GCI scientist Shin Maekawa in Cairo in 1989 during the presentation of a nitrogen-filled, hermetically sealed prototype storage case, designed by the GCI for the Egyptian Royal Mummy Collection. Photo: Frank Preusser.

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An object from the Getty Museum undergoes fumigation using a reduced oxygen environment. Photo: The J. Paul Getty Museum.

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Getty Museum staff member prepares an object for fumigation using a reduced oxygen environment. Photo: The J. Paul Getty Museum.

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An 18th-century Venetian chair at the Getty Museum is being fumigated with a nitrogen anoxia treatment. Photo: The J. Paul Getty Museum.

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The prototype storage case—designed by the GCI for the Egyptian Royal Mummy Collection—with a nitrogen flow controller and humidity and oxygen monitoring devices. Photo: Thomas Moon.

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GCI designed hermetically sealed display cases locally fabricated by staff of the Supreme Council of Antiquities to encase Royal mummies in the Royal Mummy Exhibit at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Photo: Shin Maekawa.