Monitoring of damage in historic tapestries

Objective

Historic tapestries will be characterised by an interdisciplinary consortium of conservation scientists, curators, and scientists to provide markers of physicochemical change and hence damage assessment. Curators from major European repositories of historic tapestries are involved and this reflects their mutual concern for the optimum future preservation of these increasingly fragile materials. Model of tapestries and their components wool/silk/metal thread/dyes/mordants) will be made according to traditional practices and then artificially aged. Model and historic samples will be characterised by an integrated chemical/materials science approach. A new understanding of degradation will be obtained and changes in fibre strength and colour will be described for the first time in chemical terms. The state of the fibre and fabric are of vital importance for the overall mechanical integrity of tapestries and will determine future treatment.

Programme(s)

• FP5-EESD - Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Energy, environment and sustainable development, 1998-2002"

Topic(s)

• 1.1.4.-4. - Key action City of Tomorrow and Cultural Heritage

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Address

Sackville Street
88 Manchester
United Kingdom

Participants (6)

BIRKBECK COLLEGE - UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

United Kingdom

Address

Gordon Hoyse, 29 Gordon Square
WC1H 0PP London

CONSEJO DE ADMINISTRACION DEL PATRIMONIO NACIONAL

Spain

Address

C/bailen S/n
28071 Madrid

HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES

United Kingdom

Address

Hampton Court Palace
KT8 9AU East/west Molesey

NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF SCOTLAND

United Kingdom

Address

Chambers Street
EH1 1JF Edinburgh

ROYAL INSTITUTE FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE

Belgium

Address

1,Jubelpark 1
1000 Bruxelles

UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH

United Kingdom

Address

West Mains Road, Kings Buildings
EH 3JJ Edinburgh