CCI Newsletter, No. 34, December 2004

On Display: More Fragile Than It Seems

by Jan Vuori, Conservator, Treatment and Development Division - Textiles, and Alastair Fox, Conservator, Treatment and Development Division - Furniture and Decorative Arts

When first viewing the Bannière de Ste-Anne de Caraquet
(152 cm by 91 cm excluding the cross and finials), one immediately focusses on the beautiful decoration — silk embroidery, appliqués, metallic ribbon, and metallic thread couching that covers almost the entire front surface. The overall impression is of a beautiful textile that has been treasured since it was made well over 100 years ago.

Yet time has not been so kind to the fabric that bears all of this elaborate decoration. The fabric is a warp-faced satin in which extremely fine and sparsely spaced silk warp yarns cover much thicker cotton weft yarns. The fineness of the silk warps, and the fact that silk is very susceptible to light damage, helps explain its loss in many areas. At first glance, this damage seems restricted to the centre top and bottom — areas that would have been subject to the most movement when the banner was prepared for, and carried in, processions. However, examination under magnification reveals that the silk warp is broken, or partly or completely missing, in up to 70% of the total surface area.

A variety of couching and adhesive techniques were used to secure the loose and drooping cotton wefts. This will prevent them from shifting and further damaging the adjacent silk. The construction of the banner (front and back panels each consisting of decorated satin, cotton scrim, and linen lining bound by metallic ribbon trim) complicated matters because the various layers did not lie flat and repairs had to be done through the existing areas where there was loss.

The metallic ribbon and fringe were both cleaned with solvent to remove oils and salts that might contribute to further corrosion.

The gilded wood cross and finials had cracked, loose and missing areas of gesso. Although the gold leaf was largely intact on the cross, because of wear it was missing from much of the finials. The losses were filled in with gesso and then coated with red clay bole. Just the areas on the cross were gilded with gold leaf, and the worn finials were coated with a gilt cream to match surrounding areas.

The banner, cross and finials were attached to a fabric-covered, padded, solid support covered by Plexiglas that will protect them during display, transportation and storage.

The Bannière de Ste-Anne de Caraquet is now on display at the Musée acadien de Caraquet in Caraquet, New Brunswick.