Objects made from plant materials comprise a large portion of the ethnographic material in collections around the world. Conservation of such perishable artifacts is especially difficult when they are housed in climates differing from those in which they were collected, as is often the case. This book represents an informal reference source for practicing conservators; it is based on the class notes prepared by instructors of a six-week course of the same title, sponsored by the Getty Conservation Institute in 1987. The first two chapters cover plant anatomy and identification. Chapter 3 describes the major methods and techniques used in the fabrication of artifacts made from plant materials, while chapter 4 addresses the varied deterioration processes that lead to degradation of artifacts. The final chapter provides a thorough discussion of conservation, preservation, storage, and restoration methods.