ArtDependence | Tough Mold in Danish Museums is threatening Historic Collections

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

A type of mold resilient enough to survive on the ocean floor has now appeared in Danish museums.

A particular mold has infected a number of museums in Denmark. This is reported by the Danish newspaper DR, which spoke with Camilla Jul Bastholm, head of conservation and storage at the National Museum of Denmark. She leads the research project that detected the mold.

According to her, the mold belongs to a group capable of surviving near volcanoes and at the ocean’s deepest depths. In the worst-case scenario, the mold could cause museum objects and collections to deteriorate and become unusable.

“It’s very widespread. You could almost call it a kind of coronavirus epidemic for Golden Age paintings and other museum items,” Camilla Jul Bastholm told DR.

The unwelcome, moldy guest has the tongue-twisting name Aspergillus section Restricti, and it thrives particularly well in the same climate conditions that are ideal for preserving artworks.

The mold has been found at 12 Danish museums, including Skagens Kunstmuseer and Anchers Hus.

A possible weapon in the fight against the mold could be a new type of storage facility, put into use by the National Museum in 2022 at its Frederikssund storage site.

“It can be a weapon against the growth of this mold because it’s a low-energy storage facility that helps maintain stable relative humidity throughout the year while using very little energy,” she told DR.

The objects in the storage are also monitored and cleaned frequently to keep potential mold growth under control.

Main Image: A number of artworks in Danish museums face potential destruction due to a new form of “extreme” mold, this mold has been detected in 12 Danish museums , including the National Museum of Denmark.

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