-
Costume Collection
Posted: March 29, 2020I have worked on 32 costumes for this client over the last four years which has involved varying degrees of remedial work with the aim of making the costumes safe for display. The costumes I’ve worked on date from the late 1890’s to present day, they vary in condition some required minimal work and others have needed extensive conservation. Some of the modern costumes were extremely challenging due to their construction and mixed media. The conservation work included: documentation, photography, dyeing fabric, surface cleaning, humidification treatment (to relax creases), spot cleaning, wet cleaning and remedial work to support weak areas (both adhesive and stitch treatments). In addition, I work on site along other colleagues to adapt mannequins to fit each costume ready for exhibition (each year). This has also involved me giving advice / training for adapting mannequins, storage and handling textiles. The most recent case history was the conservation of an early dress from the collection which required full conservation. All the brocade fabric needed to be supported with a specially dyed nylon net overlay to impart strength to enable it to be safely displayed. -
Liberty Dress
Posted: March 29, 2020I have worked for many years for this client, projects include tapestries, large wool hangings, curtains, African textiles and a variety of costumes. The conservation work has included: documentation, photography, dyeing fabric, surface cleaning, humidification treatment (to relax creases), spot cleaning, wet cleaning, board making, mounting textiles for display and remedial work to support weak areas (both adhesive and stitch treatments). I have carried out inhouse training for staff on handling / packing textiles and adapting mannequins. This particular case history was the conservation of a damaged lining on a Liberty dress which was required for exhibition. -
Banner Collection
Posted: March 29, 2020I carried out a textile survey for 35 textile items and prepared treatment proposals / estimates for fourteen banners. The banners varied in size, complexity and condition it was an excellent opportunity to conserve the collection. All 14 banners were conserved using a variety of techniques. Conservation work involved: full photography and written documentation, surface / spot and wet cleaning, humidification, dyed suitable support fabric and stitch / adhesive support of weak areas. I carried out a workshop for inhouse staff about handling and packing textiles. I also provided a collection / delivery service for the client. The banners will be on occasional display and be used for study purposes. -
Tain Papal Bull – 1492
Posted: March 27, 2020The Papal Bull was badly stretched in its frame, due to fluctuations and being adhered all the way round on a card mount. Previous repairs were becoming distorted, with adhesive giving up. -
Lady Matheson photo album
Posted: March 27, 2020The Lady Matheson photo album is a casebinding with a blue cloth cover and black leather spine - inner wove paper pages. The sewing is loose and the boards have broken away from the text block. The photographs have oxidised, and most of the pages require repair - tears and losses through the volume. As part of the project the photographs have been digitised and the volume restored. -
Regality Register of Abbey Register
Posted: March 27, 2020The Regality Register of Arbroath is a working manuscript between 1178 – 1560 It would have originally been bound in vellum, approximately around the 18thc, when the manuscript was handed to Arbroath Town, is the likely time it was re-bound in soft red leather. The volume required some restoration, so it was decided to cover the volume back into a traditional material used around 1178. -
Aberdeen Tax Assessment Registers – Early 19thc
Posted: March 27, 2020This has been an ongoing project for Aberdeen City Archives Tax Assessment Registers, just completed 2015 - 2019 -
Plan of the property of Cluny Macpherson in the County of Inverness Exclusive of Aberarder
Posted: March 26, 2020An estate plan owned by a private client, covered in sellotape! -
St Martin’s Church, Canterbury
Posted: March 20, 2020The in-situ conservation of the three light stained glass window. The careful weatherproofing and conservation cleaning internally and externally of the stained glass surface. -
Knole, Sevenoaks
Posted: March 20, 2020Chapel – East Window The internal and external conservation and restoration of the stained and leaded glazing.