Royal Ontario Museum Blog
Monthly Archive: December
Our next Google+ Hangout on Air: De-Extinction
![Passenger Pigeon De-Extinction Passenger Pigeon De-Extinction](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/passenger_pigeon_horizontal_rgb_letters.jpg?itok=dxFh8M5O)
Join us for a Google+ Hangout on Air on September 24th at NOON. Topic: De-Extinction
Biodiversity in the City: Toronto Biodiversity Series Launch
![A volunteer gathers a stack of Biodiversity Series books. Photo by Vincent Luk A volunteer gathers a stack of Toronto Biodiversity Series books on a table](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/vincent_luk_1-2-2_1.jpg?itok=qEpwgJ9T)
In summer 2014, the public was invited to the Evergreen Brickworks for the launch of the “Biodiversity Series of Toronto”. The four guidebooks highlighted at the event were “Mammals of Toronto”, “Spiders of Toronto”, “Reptiles and Amphibians of Toronto”, and “Butterflies of Toronto”.
Conservation Intern Spotlight: Natasa Krsmanovic
![Natasa performing backing removal on an albumen photograph at her bench in the Queen’s conservation lab. Photo courtesy of Natasa Krsmanovic. Natasa performing backing removal on an albumen photograph at her bench in the Queen’s conservation lab. Photo courtesy of Natasa Krsmanovic.](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/natasa_at_school.jpg?itok=mpdBYLVh)
This spotlight post--featuring ROM paper conservation intern Natasa Krsmanovic--highlights her background, shares her perspective on current paper conservation practices, and discusses her treatment projects at the museum.
Conservation Intern Spotlight: Emily Ricketts
![Emily cleaning Neoclassical Chandelier with tools and supplies. Photos by Jaime Clifton-Ross Emily cleaning Neoclassical Chandelier with tools and supplies. Photos by Jaime Clifton-Ross](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/emily-conserving-chandelier.jpg?itok=URa8NPXL)
This spotlight post--featuring ROM conservation intern Emily Ricketts--highlights her background, shares her perspective on current artefact conservation practices, and discusses her treatment projects at the museum.
The Monastery of St Moses, Syria: The Cave Survey
![This cave would have been a home for one of the monks of the Deir Mar Musa community, the wall at the front of the photograph shows that they had a small terrace outside the cave, either for a living area or for growing food. This cave would have been a home for one of the monks of the Deir Mar Musa community, the wall at the front of the photograph shows that they had a small terrace outside the cave, either for a living area or for growing food.](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/img_0860teaser.jpg?itok=L4AhHjwU)
The monastery at Deir Mar Musa would not have just comprised the main buildings, the monks would actually have been dispersed in hermitages across the landscape.
Nail Art: Then and Now
![Empress Dowager Cixi, Image by Jung Chang Empress Dowager Cixi, Image by Jung Chang](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/cixi.jpg?itok=hFnrcvik)
Women have grown, groomed and decorated their fingernails for over 5000 years – From the women of Ancient Egypt to the nail salon industry that flourished during the 80s and 90s, nail trends have had authority over beauty regimes across regions and eras. By the late 20th century manicured fingernails would become a sign of the leisure class among many different cultures. Grooming your fingernails parallels the act of using cosmetics, it exhibits self-expression and character.
Origins of a Collection: A look at R.S. Williams' Historic Musical Instruments
![European Music Book. 1835. Detail. 913.4.171 European Music Book. Detail. 1835.](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/european-sheet-music.jpg?itok=7-52Wo8-)
Have you ever wondered how museums collect their treasured artefacts? You probably know that many objects are generously donated to such cultural centres. But do you know the story or the provenance (the record of origin and history of ownership) behind these objects? The ROM is full of interesting acquisition stories—many of which can be found in the Curatorial departments and the Library & Archives. This is just one…
The Monastery of St Moses, Syria: The Frescoes
![The fresco of the Last Judgement on the West wall of the chapel at Deir Mar Musa. The fresco of the Last Judgement on the West wall of the chapel at Deir Mar Musa.](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/dscf0274teaser.jpg?itok=c9QnP5pf)
The third in a series on the monastery of St Moses in Syria comprises a detailed examination of the important cycle of 11th-12th century frescoes found in the chapel.