Restoration

The general principles of the textile restoration are the same as other works of art: readability, visibility, compatibility and reversibility of the interventions. It's a curatif care which is made in mind of preservation: the aim isn't to reconstitute, but to strengthen a work by ensuring its continued existence and its integrity. Only reversible techniques are used, that it was done should be dismantle after, with the least damage on the object.

Restores intervene on the objet and they are helped by other people for certain task, for example the dyeing and preparation of textiles.

The intervention times on an object are very changeable and can reach 3 or 4 months of work.

Two principal stages for the costume's restoration:

• The cleaning

Each stage of cleaning should be carry out cautiously during the micro-aspiration, the soft brush and the aspiration strength should be adapted to the fragilty of the piece. The wash by demineralized water or solvent, with a few detergent, is a heavy intervention which is practice in rare cases. Last stage of cleaning, the reshape be made at flat with class sheet, weights or steam (but without heat addition). The ironing is forbidden: the iron crushs and damages textile fibre.

• The consolidation

The intervention is made by support or protection textiles, compatible with the work. The support textile, which lines the original fabric, relieves this one of tension. The consolidation is made by needle with point of sewing specific to the restoration.

An example of a restoration service in situ: The Galliera Museum

The restorers of Galliera Museum work in restoration and preventive preservation workshop of the museum, which are in the ground floor of the building (in the basement are the storerooms)

The workshops are composed of different space divided according to the costume journey from its arrival to the storerooms:

·         a transit room

·         a restoration room divided in 2 separate rooms:

-          a humid room, where are carried out evry intervention with water and solvent (There are a washing table, a class table, an equipment for the dyeing…)

-          a dry room, where are made the other intervention and the studying of pieces (There are a moving table, tidying space…

·            A dust removal room, for the micro aspiration (before put the costumes in the storerooms or after exhibition back) 

·            A quarantine room 

·            A photographic studio

·            A stocking equipment room

·            A « mannequinage » room

Several restorers work in this workshop. The Galliera museum makes restoration campaign according to each materials

A lot of museums haven’t workshops restoration. It’s the case of the CNCS. This one works regularly with independent textile restorers

Video in french: Musée Galliera : Visite de l'atelier de restauration