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The Textile Conservancy provides a specialist conservation service for a wide range of textiles – whether antique, modern, rare museum object or treasured item of family heritage.
Alex Seth-Smith is dedicated to delivering the best conservation treatment that meets the requirement of every textile. Detailed examination and documentation are the primary tasks in understanding what may be required: materials, method of construction and condition need to be identified to ensure the object is able to safely and pleasingly fulfill its future role.
The Textile Conservancy comprises a small team who have worked together for over a decade. Our well organised and intuitive working relationship benefits every conservation treatment through consistent standard of execution and time efficiency.
In addition to the care delivered in all aspects of project execution and management, the practice is adept at finding innovative solutions for conservation treatments and display.
Our conservation services are offered to heritage organizations, including museums and stately homes, as well as individuals – all of whom seek proven expertise.
Through decades of experience in textile care, the practice is pleased to offer an extensive range of interventive treatments. Deterioration of textiles may be the consequence of long-term or poor display systems, extensive wear and in some cases, accidental damage. Whatever the cause, cleaning and repair are executed to a consistently high standard, whether for a large-scale tapestry, historic costume or sampler.
Alex Seth-Smith is a specialist in the conservation of tapestries and has undertaken numerous projects for stately homes and private clients.
All proposed treatments are documented within the Condition Report and Quotation and no work is undertaken without client consent.
Preparation for display is an important aspect of conservation as textiles require appropriate support mechanisms to ensure their long-term preservation.
Whether mounting a flat textile or creating a support system of under-garments, such as shaped petticoats and panniers, the practice achieves a level of presentation that will show the object to perfection in its unique setting.
Photographic Credit:
The Wellington Collection, Apsley House. Photograph: Chris Ison
A textile audit provides an assessment of the textile items within a collection or an individual object. It brings together valuable information on description and condition that together, provide an overview that can lead to improvement of storage facilities and prioritization of textiles for conservation treatment.
The Textile Conservancy has most recently carried out a condition survey for St. John’s College, Oxford and the College of Arms, London.
The Textile Conservancy offers advice on the environment in which textiles are displayed or stored. Light levels, humidity and temperature all require control to create the best possible climate for the preservation of historic textiles.
The practice specializes in recommendations for dealing with moth infestation.
If you have a textile or textile related project, we welcome your enquiry and are pleased to respond to questions relating to textile conservation.
Since 2003, Alex Seth-Smith has been an Accredited Member of Icon (ACR) which implements standards for the care of our cultural heritage across a range of disciplines.
Each month, the practice offers a free half-hour consultation on the last Friday afternoon for anyone would has a query regarding an object.
Please contact the conservation studio to make an appointment.