Five large unseasoned wooden artifacts brought from Papua New Guinea to Sydney needed to be acclimatized for display within a strict time limit. The conservation emphasis was placed on reducing shrinkage and cracking of the objects by drying them under controlled relative humidity conditions. The influence of the drying program on the moisture content of the wood and its effect on shrinkage and fungal activity are discussed. Other factors affecting the dimensional stability of wood are also mentioned. Two main conclusions are drawn: that having advance knowledge of the drying characteristics of the species of timber involved is highly desirable when planning and implementing a seasoning program for wooden objects and that mold growth on wood which has a high moisture content can be controlled by circulating sterilized air.