Tiny Matters Mysteries in the museum: How textile conservators investigate and preserve historic clothing
May 15, 2024
Camille Breeze, Director at Museum Textile Services, and Susan Heald, textile conservator at the Smithsonian, dive into the fascinating world of textile conservation. They discuss how forensic techniques reveal hidden stories in fragile garments and the innovative methods used to preserve these historical pieces. The duo highlights the collaboration between conservators and scientists, tackling challenges posed by environmental threats and synthetic materials. They also emphasize the importance of inclusivity in museum practices, showcasing diverse cultural narratives through textiles.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Textile Forensics
- Camille Breeze discusses a dress possibly belonging to a Revolutionary War general's wife.
- She uses forensic techniques to determine its authenticity, combining material analysis with historical records.
Textile Analysis Techniques
- Textile conservators use microscopy to identify fiber types, like silk, wool, or cotton.
- They analyze damage patterns to understand an object's history, sometimes uncovering hidden writing with photographs or black lights.
Quillwork Dye Analysis
- Susan Heald worked on quillwork from the Eastern Woodlands, analyzing dyes using LCMS.
- She discovered that blues came from wild berries, showing resourcefulness in traditional crafts.