The Textile Conservator's Manual (Butterworth-Heinemann Series in Conservation and Museology)

This second edition of 'Textile Conservator's Manual', now revised and available in paperback, provides an in-depth review of the current practice, ethics and materials used in textile conservation. Concentrating on decorative art objects from the major cultures, the book gives practical instruction and a wide variety of case histories. While the format has been simplified, the text has been expanded and updated to include changes bought about by recent developments in the conservation of material. This new information will increase the reader's ability to interpret signs of ageing and past activity on the object. New case histories in Part Two represent major investigations into the technical history. A basis is provided from which to develop practical skills, taking into account the needs of the object, its essential characteristics of appearance and, above all, its structure. The book covers a wide range of decorative objects, from a fragment of linen 4000 years old to a theatrical backcloth of the twentieth century. This book is practical and thought-provoking, not only about what is being done and how, but also why. Paperback edition of established book In-depth review of current practice Covers wide range of decorative objects Cover 1 The Textile Conservator's Manual 4 Copyright 5 Series Editors' Preface 6 Dedication 8 Contents 10 Preface 15 Acknowledgements 17 Part One: the Manual 20 1. The Profession 22 1.1 The Making of a Conservator 22 1.2 Ethics and Aesthetics 23 1.3 Science and Conservation 25 2. Technology 27 2.1 Fibres 27 2.2 Textiles 30 2.3 Dyes 33 2.4 Degradation 36 2.5 The Chief Fibres 40 3. Examination, Options and Choice 47 3.1 Examination 47 3.2 Options and Choice 56 3.3 Cleaning 56 3.4 Support 59 3.5 Preparation 60 3.6 An Attitude of Mind 61 4. Recording, Handling and Preparation 62 4.1 Recording 62 4.2 Handling 64 4.3 Pinning and Tacking 67 4.4 Personal Tools 68 4.5 Fibre Identification 68 4.6 Testing for Colour Fastness 69 4.7 Fixing Colours 70 4.8 Unpicking 71 4.9 Removing Backings Stuck with Glue 73 4.10 Removing Nails and Tacks 76 4.11 Biological Attack 77 4.12 Preparation for Washing 78 4.13 Preparation of Support Fabrics 78 4.14 Taking a Pattern 80 4.15 General Information 81 5. Chemicals and Their Uses 86 5.1 Definitions of Terms 86 5.2 Water and Its Additives 87 5.3 Enzymes 93 5.4 Solvents 93 6. Cleaning 98 6.1 Surface Cleaning 98 6.2 Wet Cleaning 99 6.3 Practical Advice for Wet Cleaning 101 6.4 Auxiliary Cleaning Agents 109 6.5 Drying 110 6.6 Solvent Cleaning 111 6.7 Spotting 112 6.8 Metal Cleaning 114 6.9 Finishing 116 6.10 Category Recommendations 117 7. Support and Consolidation 125 7.1 The Materials of Conservation 125 7.2 Testing Materials 127 7.3 Dyeing for Conservation 128 7.4 Introduction to the Techniques of Support and Consolidation 130 7.5 Consolidation 130 7.6 The Mechanics of Stitching 131 7.7 Stitches and Stitching 135 7.8 Adhesives 139 7.9 Supporting the Object with an Adhesive 142 7.10 Water-Soluble Glues 148 7.11 Surface Work 149 7.12 Category Recommendations 149 7.13 Faults and Their Remedies 166 8. Reassembly and Finishing 168 8.1 Linings 168 8.2 Reassembly 171 8.3 Finishing 172 8.4 Category Recommendations 172 9. Display, Storage and Transportation 179 9.1 Display 179 9.2 General Display 181 9.3 Storage 188 9.4 Category Recommendations 190 9.5 Transportation 193 10. Equipment and the Workroom 194 10.1 Decor and Lighting 194 10.2 Basic Furniture 195 10.3 Power 196 10.4 Extraction and Ventilation 196 10.5 Tools and Equipment 196 10.6 Materials 199 10.7 Storage 199 10.8 Capital Equipment and Conservation Machinery 200 10.9 Conclusion 204 Appendix A Materials and Equipment 205 Appendix B Emergency Procedures: Fire, Flood and Infestation 216 Appendix C Glossary of Weaving Terms 217 Appendix D The Environment 219 Part Two: Ideas and Experience 222 11. Old Case Histories Revisited 224 11.1 Miscellaneous 224 11.2 Upholstery (Hangings) 226 11.3 Upholstery (Seat Furniture) 230 11.4 Treatment of Cellulose Fibres 231 11.5 Archaeological Objects 234 11.6 Costume: Mounting and Transportation 239 12. Detection and Reconstruction 243 12.1 Counterpoint of the Osterley State Bed 243 12.2 An Embroidered Sack-Back Dress of the 1760s 249 12.3 A Remodelled Mantua (1740-60) 254 12.4 A State Bed from Burghley House, Stamford 256 13. Upholstery 267 13.1 The Beginnings 267 13.2 Seating 268 13.3 Wall Coverings 271 13.4 State Beds 273 13.5 Seventeenth-Century Chairs: Investigation and Conservation 276 13.6 The Juxon Chair and Stool, Circa 1630 280 13.7 Conservation of a Wall Covering in Situ 290 13.8 The Melville Bed, 1695-1700 291 13.9 Conclusion 295 14. The Conservation of Large Objects 296 14.1 The Ardabil Carpet 296 14.2 A Fragment of a Carpet from North-West Persia 304 14.3 The Roof and Walls of an Indian Tent 308 14.4 A Theatrical Backcloth 312 14.5 The 'Stoke Edith' or Cmontacute5 Embroidery 317 15. Experience and Experiment 322 15.1 The Warner Pattern Books 322 15.2 A Fragment of Chinese Silk 325 15.3 A Chasuble 325 15.4 An Experiment on Cellulose Fibres 329 15.5 A Group of Linens from the Tomb of Tutenkhamun 330 15.6 The 'Hoiman Tapestry' 332 15.7 An Eighteenth-Century Gentleman's Coat 335 15.8 Preventive Conservation 336 15.9 An Egyptian Tunic 336 15.10 An Indian Cotton Wall Hanging 337 15.11 A Velvet Cope 338 15.12 A New Technique 338 16. Disasters 341 16.1 Incident 1: The Fire at Hampton Court Palace 341 16.2 Incident 2: The 'Worst' Textiles, Chicago 344 16.3 Incident 3: The Osterley Park Flood 345 Abbreviations 348 References 349 Further Reading 351 Photograph Credits 353 Index 354 Cover; The Textile Conservator's Manual; Copyright; Series Editors' Preface; Dedication; Contents; Preface; Acknowledgements; Part One: the Manual; 1. The Profession; 1.1 The Making of a Conservator; 1.2 Ethics and Aesthetics; 1.3 Science and Conservation; 2. Technology; 2.1 Fibres; 2.2 Textiles; 2.3 Dyes; 2.4 Degradation; 2.5 The Chief Fibres; 3. Examination, Options and Choice; 3.1 Examination; 3.2 Options and Choice; 3.3 Cleaning; 3.4 Support; 3.5 Preparation; 3.6 An Attitude of Mind; 4. Recording, Handling and Preparation; 4.1 Recording; 4.2 Handling; 4.3 Pinning and Tacking.;This second edition of 'Textile Conservator's Manual', now revised and available in paperback, provides an in-depth review of the current practice, ethics and materials used in textile conservation. Concentrating on decorative art objects from the major cultures, the book gives practical instruction and a wide variety of case histories. While the format has been simplified, the text has been expanded and updated to include changes bought about by recent developments in the conservation of material. This new information will increase the reader's ability to interpret signs of ageing and past ac. -- Paperback edition of established book-- In-depth review of current practice-- Covers wide range of decorative objects-- Practical and thought-provoking-- New and revised case studiesThis second edition of 'Textile Conservator's Manual', now revised and available in paperback, provides an in-depth review of the current practice, ethics and materials used in textile conservation. Concentrating on decorative art objects from the major cultures, the book gives practical instruction and a wide variety of case histories. An in-depth review of the current practice, ethics and materials of textile conservation, concentrating on decorative art objects from the major cultures. It provides a basis from which to develop practical skills and gives background information for preventative and remedial purposes.