A New Layout for the Textiles Collection
In terms of the quantity of items, textiles do not occupy an important place in the Ethnographic Collection. At a mere 35 items, they represent only 2.5% of the collection.
The significance of the textiles collection resides in its great diversity. Our most ancient textile was woven at around 1000 BCE in Peru and belongs to the Chimù society, while the most recent textiles were made during the last decade. This is the case for a contemporary quilt from the Cook Islands, which was very recently donated to the collection. The origins of our items are also very diverse, as they span across Oceania, Africa, Asia and South America. The range of methods of fabrication, as well as the materials used to make our collection, are remarkable.
N. Frankel, Assistant Conservator, working
on the preservation of the Textiles’ Collection.
©D.Mercier
The collection includes in particular Batiks from Java and Borneo, a Sudanese tunic, an indigo Dogon textile, a palm leaf turban from Colombia, and a beautiful Bushango embroidered textile from the Kasai River. It is also possible to discover various kinds of tapas from Pacific Ocean’s Islands as well as very interesting looped and crocheted bags. Although the collection’s state of conservation is rather good, the textiles needed a thorough check before being properly tidied up. Using modest means and preservation materials fitted to textiles, Nora Frankel, our Assistant Conservator, is implementing our textile preservation plan. Nora is a student in the MA Principles of Conservation in the UCL Department of Archeology.
N. Frankel building a box in preservation materials
fiited to textiles. ©D.Mercier
She became a member of our volunteer team in November 2013 and is a brilliant student up to the challenges of her mission. She was behind the original proposal to use made-to-measure boxes for each textile. Started at the end of term one, this project will take place during the entire year and is scheduled to be completed at the end of term 3.
A two levels box made for two small tapas.
©D.Mercier