Conservation

The conservation of textiles is concerned with the protection and stabilization of the piece. The treatment should not permanently alter the object and be reversible if need be. This may involve adding a lining to support damaged or weak areas or stitch mounting the piece to a rigid support. Frayed, lifted areas, and losses are stabilized to protect and prevent further damage. Often, hand dyed patches are used to visually minimize areas of loss. We take an aesthetic approach, emphasizing the visual integrity of the piece.

Before / After

Peru, Nazca culture, 200BC-400AD. Wool weft face tapestry weave with cotton warps (detail). Wet cleaned, tears stabilized and mounted on linen.

Before / After

Nepalese Tantric banner, 17thc, painted cotton (detail). Surface cleaned, loss infilled and stabilized, mounted on linen.

Before / After

G.A.R. banner, silk and cotton. The deteriorated silk with tears and losses. This piece was surface cleaned, the silk fragments re-aligned and stabilized and the piece mounted on linen.