Katharine Barker - Textiles Restoration
KDG Troopers Jacket Zulu War 1879.
This jacket used by the regiment in 1879 was found in a hedge in Dorset and donated to the musuem in 1989 where, due to conditions in the musuem enviroment its condition deteriorated even further.
The jacket was surfaced cleaned using a range of brushes and vacuum suction.
Wool fabrics were dyed to a red shade and to a cream shade to match the outer and lining fabrics respectively. Ciba-Geigy ''Lanaset'' dyestuffs were used. Pieces of these fabrics were positioned behind holes in the jacket and then the patches and surrounding fabric were secured by stitching with Gutermann's polyester A302 threads. The wool patches used to fill the large holes in the sleeve were stiffened before use by backing them with a strong cotton fabric and stitching the layers to-gether.
Failed seams in the lining were re-worked and the laether collar tab, found loose in the box, was stiched back into place. A302 threads were used
1. Holes in the sleeve before conservation 2. The sleeve after conservation
3. The jacket after conservation work.
Queen's Bays Officers Frock Coat, c1900.
The coat had suffered from damp, and humidity in its location in the musuem, stitching had started to come loose.
Extensive loose decorations on the right sleeve were re-positioned and re-stitched into place using Gutermann's A302 polyester threads. The same threads wwere used to secure a failed internal seam, the torn collar edge and other small sections of loose trimmings.
Queen's Bays Standard c1860
The Standard was removed from the old frame and mounting board. On examination, it was found that the various motifs were all mounted on a red silk, which had largely disintegrated, causing them to be re-mounted on purple silk, in turn now largely disintegrated and faded to grey and heavily stitched onto a linen support. This repair stitching was thought to be excessive and unsightly and was, therefore, unpicked.
A length of fine nylon net was dyed to match the remnants of the original red fabric. This was then used to cover both front and back of the Standard, protecting and securing it and putting back a suggestion of the original colouring. The net was stitched into place, working around edges, motifs and support lines. Gutermann's polyester "Skala" threads were used.
A mounting board was made up from medium density fibreboard (MDF), isolated with "Melinex" (impermeable polyester film) and padded either with cotton domet and then covered with natural linen Holland. The Standard was positioned on the board and stitched into place using Gutermann's polyester "Skala" and A302 threads.
1. LEFT. 2. RIGHT.
LEFT: Detail of old repair stitching and the original red silk visible around the edges of the motifs.
RIGHT: Unrolling the new red net, from left to right across the Standard.
1. Before Conservation. 2. After Conservation.
KDG and Queen' Bays Officers 19th Century Pouich Belt and Sabretaches.
The metal areas on all five pieces were surfaced cleaned using cotton wool swabs moistened with acetone.
The build up of polish on the leather was cleaned off using a rotating soft brush. ‘’Leather Groom’’ was then applied with a brush and surfaces buffed with a cotton cloth.
All surfaces were then suctioned cleaned using a mini-vac and brush. Loose threads were secured by stitching with Gutermann’s polyester ‘’Skala’’ Thread.
The pouch was found to be a metal box, lined with red leather and slotted into the blue-black leather outer bag. The side seams, on one side of the outer bag were found to have been torn and the area glued, now unsuccessfully, to the metal inner. Old repair glue was scraped off the sides of the metal box and the red leather lining re-adhered to it, were necessary using HMG adhesive. The torn side seams could not be repaired by stitching and it was inappropriate to try and glue the affected area to the metal inner, as had been tried previously. The weight of the belt and metal rings, attached to the side, caused the damaged side to pull away from any support lining. Therefore, a length of black cotton tape was taken around the outside of the damaged side and then adhered to the inside of the front and back faces. Once again HMG adhesive was used,
LEFT: RIGHT.
LEFT: Cartouche pouch. Blue velvet with embroidered GR Monogram. KDG c1815
RIGHT: KDG embroidered Sabretache. Front blue velvet with GR Monogram. Waterloo battle honour on red seal.
LEFT: RIGHT:
LEFT: KDG Officers sabretache William IV (1830-1837)
RIGHT: KDG Officers embroidered sabretache with VR Monogram (1854-1856) with waist belt and slings.
KDG Pouch and Belt c1838
Queen's Bays Drum Banners c1900.
Each banner was surface cleaned using low power vacuum suction and soft brushes, followed by swabs moistened with deionised water and with acetone. Loose sections of fabric and motifs were stitched into place using Gutermann's polyester threads.
Mounting boards were made up from Medium Density Fibreboard and covered with "Melinex" to isolate them from the textiles. They were then covered with a cushioning layer of cotton domet and finally with natural linen Holland. All fabrics were soaked in baths of hot water before use, to remove any dressings.
Due to the thickness and the weight of the banners, it was decided that stitching into position would be difficult and prone to pulling and possible failure. Therefore, hook and loop fastener was applied to the boards by stapling and the banners by stitching respectively. The two were then pressed together and the banners left to hang freely
