Conservation and restoration of quilts
Quilts have been produced for centuries, as utilitarian blankets, decorations, family heirlooms, and now treasured museum collections objects.
The composite nature of these objects creates an interesting challenge for their conservation, as the separate layers can be made of different textile materials, multiple colors, and therefore, varying degrees of wear, tear, and damage.
[citation needed] Patterns, fabric, and styles differ greatly based on the time period and area that they were produced in.
Quilts containing metal salts formed a minority of these objects, however, they provide an example of the types of features to be identified when considering treatment.
The Minnesota Historical Society has some guidelines for preserving quilts that include insights such as looking for deterioration issues due to certain fabric types such as silk as well as specific dyes.
Some common historical and current quilting techniques include the following: The conservation and use of all materials in a museum should be balanced to suit the object and the public.
Conservation scientists use the skills they developed in these fields to conserve/restore objects from a wide array of museum areas including; statues, historical sites, paper, and textiles.
Through understanding the different agents of deterioration and examining the greatest threat to the objects, the museum can develop a plan to mitigate these risks.
[5] Light is not the only agent that affects textiles such as quilts; composed of organic materials, they contain carbon, are susceptible to temperature and relative humidity levels, may absorb water, and can even become homes for mold and sources of food for pests.
[6] Quilts, and textiles in general, can be sensitive to chemicals, dust, dirt, oils, smoke, stains, perfume, and even excessive washing.
According to the National Park Service Museum Handbook, 2012, "chemical changes in textiles caused by interaction with light also weaken the fabric so that physical damage such as rips and tears are more likely to occur.
Besides monitoring for pests, chemicals, pollutants, light and humidity levels by themselves, these museum professionals check for any other visible signs and causes of deterioration.
The prerequisites for all storage environments include a clean, dark, cool, and dry space with constant temperature and relative humidity.
[citation needed] Other physical factors may cause damage while handling a quilt; this includes snagging and pulling, uneven support, and improper movement.
To reduce risks of these hazards, best practice include the following; avoiding jewelry and clothing that could snag the item, working on surfaces larger than the quilt itself, and maintaining even support through the process of transportation.
"[14] A majority of quilts are put on display using cord suspension systems and often have cotton sleeves attached to reduce stress to the fibers.
Understanding the chemical composition, characteristics of the fibers, which dyes were used, and what soils are present is important before using any wet-cleaning methods on the quilt.
[citation needed] In terms of restoring museum objects, buildings, textiles, etc., treatment refers to more than just the physical processes used to bring these items back to their original state.
However, according to the National Park Service, conservators must perform the interventive treatments such as "wet and dry cleaning, repair using needle and thread techniques, consolidation with adhesives, application of linings, restoration and reconstructions" and more.
