Conservation and Scientific Services for Textiles

The Institute offers a wide range of services in the field of textile conservation and research:

Treatment

CCI offers an interdisciplinary approach to the conservation treatment of historic textiles including:

• painted textiles (flags and banners)
• costumes and costume accessories (hats, shoes, etc.)
• archaeological textiles
• ethnographic textiles
• oversized textiles (hangings, tapestries)

Training

Training seminars and workshops, with hands-on components, are customized to suit needs. Training may be interdisciplinary as required, and topics include:

• care of textiles
• adhesives used in textile conservation
• dyeing for textile conservation
• cleaning historic textiles
• construction of mannequins for historic costumes

CCI also provides many types of internships to suit people at different stages of their careers.

Advisory and On-site Consulting Services

• preventive conservation
• museum planning
• transportation of works of art
• storage and display materials and environment
• surveys of collections and facilities
• on-site infrared spectroscopic analysis
• emergency preparedness planning

Analysis and Testing

• lightfastness testing using artificial light
• fibre analysis and identification
• pH analysis of textiles
• identification and analysis of components of textile artifacts (adhesives, consolidants, paints, etc.)
• analysis of natural dyes
• determination of silk degradation
• determination of cellulose degradation
• colour measurements and monitoring

Research

• characterization of silk degradation
• effects of wet cleaning on cotton and linen
• effects of stain removal methods on historic textiles
• use of enzymes

Specialized Procedures and Equipment

• colour measurements
• Atlas Launder-Ometer for dyeing
• Atlas Weather-Ometer for artificial light ageing
• environmental chambers for artificial heat and humidity ageing
• oversized low suction table for washing large textiles
• ultrasonic mister
• freeze-drying for emergency situations
• parylene coating for consolidation of fragile textiles