In 1843, an Easter Island artifact -- a zoomorphic image depicting a seal goddess or a bird used in the annual bird king ceremonies was donated to the Mechanics Institute, later the New Brunswick Museum. Made of reeds and covered with tapa cloth, the figure became extremely desiccated over the years until it was finally sent to the Canadian Conservation Institute's regional laboratory in Moncton, N.B., in 1975. The conservation treatment is briefly indicated. The design and construction of the exhibition case for this figure are described at length; by sealing the effigy in a nitrogen environment, the object was free of oxygen, moisture, and unintentional handling. This case has been assessed after eight years of use to determine its performance as a microclimate and protective barrier against damage.