caring for and mounting textile collections

Caring for and Mounting Textile

Collections and Accessories.

By Sam van de Geer

Social History Conservator

and Keeper of the Textile Collection

Introduction: House Keeping

Introduction

Introduction

Open Day 13th October 10-4

Introduction

• Diversity of Textiles in Collections.

• Many areas of Preventive Conservation.

• Quick look at Active Conservation

• Look at the wide variety of conservation grade materials available.

• Introduce you to basic and best practice of mounting and storage techniques.

• Several practical session throughout the morning.

Textile Collection: Diverse

Textile Collection: Deterioration

Preventive Conservation

• Environment

• Light

• Pests

• Handling

• Storage methods and materials

•Store in a cool dry-ish place.

•Keep away from direct sunlight and spot lights.

•Look out for pests in your house.

•Use conservation grade materials where

possible.

•Pack at least with acid free tissue.

•Discard any packing materials that yellow or

develop foxing small brown dots.

•Examine treasures periodically to make sure

everything is OK.

Caring for your Own Treasures

Preventive Conservation: Environment

Preventive Conservation: Light

Preventive Conservation: Pests

Wool, silk, fur, feather and skins.

Carpet Beetle Common Clothes

Moth

Identifying Pests Damaged caused

Natural History: by Carpet Beetle

Rugs and carpets: by Clothes Moth

Preventive Conservation: Pests Treatment

Freezing at -18oc or -40oc

Nitrogen Tank

Activity One Pests through magnification

Handling Objects Carrying small or flat objects

Handling: Dress

Conservation Materials

• Inert

• Natural and Synthetic

• Pure as possible and not bleached

Activity Two Conservation Grade Materials

• Unbuffered Acid Free Tissue Paper

• Unbleached calico

• Unbleached stretch Jersey

• Polyethylene Foam

• Woven Cotton Tape

• Polyester Wadding

• Polyfelt

• Spun-bonded polyolefin sheet Tyvek

• Marvelseal

Activity Two Conservation Grade Materials

Un-buffered Acid Free Tissue Paper Soft

Layers between objects and inserts delicate objects

and

Crunchy

Firmer good for support inside stringers items like hats

Activity Two Conservation Grade Materials

Unbleached Calico (scoured)

Activity Two Conservation Grade Materials

Unbleached Stretch Jersey

Activity Two Conservation Grade Materials

Polyethylene Foam

Wrapping objects or lining boxes or lining shelves

Activity Two Conservation Grade Materials

Woven Cotton Tape

Activity Two Conservation Grade Materials

Polyester Wadding

conservation grade without fire retardant and fine for temporary

Polyfelt

Activity Two Conservation Grade Materials

Tyvek - Spun-bonded polyolefin sheet

Activity Two Conservation Grade Materials

Marvelseal®

Museum Resource Centre:

Designated Textile Store

Preventive conservation: Storage Improvements for Hats

Before After

Storage of Objects: Hats

Basic Practise for storing hats.

Storage of Objects: Hats

Best Practise for storing hats.

Storage of Objects: Hats

Ultimate Best practise – Ethafoam carved into shape and covered in jersey on an

acid free card tray, rolled ties. Then stored in a box or a sealed cabinet.

Museum of fine Art Boston

Storage of Objects: Shoes

Improvements to storage of Footwear

Shoe cupboard needs sealing

to Protect shoes from acid in

the wood

Boxing up shoes individually

with photograph and accession

number

Storage of Objects: Shoes

Beach Croft Art Gallery, conserved and packaged by Textile conservation Centre

OXCMS:1990.19.1

One piece dress, women’s

Date: 1940-1949

Material: Silk

Associated Place: Oxford

Associated Person: Mrs D.C. Carr Lord

Mayor of Oxfords Wife.

Storage Improvements: Labels

Storage of Objects: Flat Textiles

Converting a wardrobe for flag and banner storage

Storage of Objects: Flat Textiles

Packing a textile too long

for it’s box

Activity Three Acid Free Tissue

Storage of Objects: Dress

Packing of Garments

- Best Practise

Packing of garments - Basic Practise

Storage of Objects: Dress

Padded wooden coat hangers

Activity Four Padded Coat Hangers

Storage of Objects: Dress

Tyvek™ garment bags

Ready Made Tyvek Covers

Preservation Equipment

Storage of Objects: Dress

Active Conservation

• In House Conservation

• Private Conservation by a Specialist

After Conservation

Active Conservation

Victorian Shawl

OXCMS:1974.28.151

Active Conservation: Private Conservators

Pocket before, during and after

Conservation

Pocket After Conservation

OXCMS:1997.7 Hidden Cache of Objects

Just Say No

Water damage sampler Courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum

Shredding Silk

Poor infill stitches distort

image of tapestry

15 minute comfort break.

Types of Displays

• Single Venue Exhibition

• Temporary Touring Exhibition

• Permanent Display

Mounting For Display: Hats

Polystyrene Head from Morplan. Perspex Hat Stands, left

from Eden shop the right

from Dauphan.

Dauphan mount with

plasterzote and polyester

wadding support.

Mounting For Display: Hats

Mounting For Display: Hats

Mounting For Display: Bespoke Hats

OXCMS : 1974.28.191 Straw Poke Bonnet,

1830’s from Lower Heyford.

Tyvek top and calico bottom

Mounting For Display:

On a Mannequin

Dress Uniform

OXCMS:2006.118

Mounting For Display: Shoes

Not recommended Basic Practice

Mounting For Display: Shoes

Basic Practise On Purchased Shoe Mount

Mounting For Display: Shoes

Image courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum

Mounting For Display: Mannequins

Mounting For Display: Mannequins

Mounting Objects for Display:

Coronation Robes

1st Baron Lord and Lady

Wardington 1937

2nd Baron Lord Wardington

1953

Mounting For Display: Mannequins

Mounting For Display: Mannequins

Mounting For Display: Mannequins

Mounting For Display: Dress

Eden shop polystyrene mannequin chopped down to fit very small women,

handmade bustle and arms.

Mounting For Display: Bust

Mounting For Display: Dress

Mounting For Display: Dress

Mounting a Petticoat for the revealed exhibition.

Mounting For Display: Arms

Arms

Mounting For Display: Misc

Mounting For Display: Mannequin Issues

Mounting For Display: Legs

Mounting For Display: Mannequin Issues

Beecroft Art Gallery Essex

Mounting For Display: Floating

Mounting For Display: Flat Textiles

Textile Collection on Display: Stonesfield Embroidery

OXCMS:1996.81

Resources

Publications

A Practical Guide to Costume

Mounting by Lara Flecker

Illustrated Guide to the Care of

Costume and Textile Collections on

Collections Link

Suppliers

http://www.benchmarkcatalog.com/

www.edenshop.co.uk

www.morplan.com

www.conservation-resources.co.uk

www.preservationequipment.com

www.ryderbox.co.uk

www.2Wpackaging.co.uk

www.whaleys

Thank You

Activity Five: Have a go

Polystyrene Head from Morplan. Perspex Hat Stands, left

from Eden shop the right

from Dauphan.

Dauphan mount with

plasterzote and polyester

wadding support.