Caring for Cultural Material 1

Caring for Cultural Material 2

Damage and Decay

Managing Collections

Managing People

Handling, Transportation, Storage and Display

Glossary

Index

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Caring for Cultural Material 2
In this volume:
arrow Textiles
– Leather
– Wood
– Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Material
– Metals
– Outdoor Collections
– Acknowledgments
TEXTILES
In this chapter:
– Objectives
– Introduction
– What do we mean by textiles?
– What are the most common types of damage?
– Common causes of damage
– The do's and don'ts of handling textiles
– The do's and don'ts of labelling textiles
– Historical costumes—why they should not be worn
– Storing textiles
– Storing accessories
– The best materials for storing and displaying textiles
– Displaying textiles
– Open hanging methods for flat textiles
– Displaying historic costume
– Cleaning textiles
– Summary of conditions for storage and display
– Textiles in Australia's climatic zones
  MORE ABOUT TEXTILES
arrow A note on the use of Tyvek
– Selecting fabrics, threads and stitches for textile conservation
– For further reading
– Self-evaluation quiz
– Answers to self-evaluation quiz

 

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TEXTILES

A note on the use of Tyvek

Tyvek is a very useful storage material for textiles. It will protect your textile from dust and water while allowing air circulation. However, it must be used the right way up. Tyvek is water-resistant from one direction but is penetrable from the other side. This is how it allows the textile to breathe. The smooth side of the Tyvek should be placed in contact with the textile at all times. Tyvek is available in white or with one coloured side. It may be easier to use coloured Tyvek to ensure that you always use it the right way up. Tyvek is available in a range of weights. The weight commonly used in conservation is Type 1443R. Tyvek can be machine-sewn into storage bags or covers. It can also be machine-washed.

image of Tyvek cover

Tyvek used to cover stored garments.

Photograph courtesy of Artlab Australia

 

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