So this is my first solo conservation treatment outside of school. My family has had this tapestry for generations (it was brought back by my great great uncle from Egypt when he was on military duty) and it's been hanging at my grandmother's cottage in Muskoka in the sunlight for years. It was taken down a few years ago when my aunts renovated and it hasn't been put back since because of the condition. As such, I was asked if I was interested in working on it.
This will essentially be a surface cleaning and stabilization project as I don't have the facilities to do a proper wet cleaning with detergent, but I am going to try to do at least one immersion so the cigarette and other stains in the weave will have a chance to come out.. somewhat. A bit of consolidation of the loose pieces and some couching should make it more stable. It used to be a beautiful colour but years in the sun has really left it faded (go figure) and nothing can be done about that.
It's cotton on a full linen substrate.
Loose strips of fabric and unravelling of linen
Ripped cotton detail and corrosion stain
General staining (mildew?)
Back of tapestry.
I'll hopefully get more treatment pictures up as work gets underway.
