If anyone has access to the 3 October issue of the scientific journal Nature (Vol. 502, No. 7469), there's an interesting one page interview with Sandra Smith, head conservator at the V&A's new Clothworkers' Centre for the Study and Conservation of Textiles and Fashion. It touches on storage (dark and cold is best), relative humidity (should be below 70%), protecting against insect attack, the problems of modern materials (gas-emitting sequins and sticky PVC dresses), and display (attaching a fragile handkerchief to a supporting fabric using the tiniest threads and needles, and sewing between the fibres of the handkerchief). Lace also gets a mention as one of the groups of items stored at the centre.
Jean in sunny Glasgow - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
