Female Figure, early 20th century
Unknown maker, Sumbawa, Indonesia
Wood, 15 × 4 × 3 3/4 in. (38.1 × 10.2 × 9.5 cm)
Brooklyn Museum, New York City, gift of Drs. John I. and Nicole Dintenfass, 2005.75.1

This figure is covered by a white crystalline bloom that renders its surface barely legible. The phenomenon is the result of wax crystals or free fatty acids migrating from within the wooden substrate to the surface of the figure, a byproduct of waxes or oils that could have been applied ritually or for preservation reasons. This phenomenon is affected by changes in ambient temperature and relative humidity. The bloom poses a conservation challenge: it is likely to reappear even after it has been removed from the surface as long as the wax or oil remains in the wooden substrate. Removing these substances is impractical and may have an undesirable effect on the item’s structural integrity. Often the most expedient course of action is to tightly regulate its environment on display or in storage.