Conservation of a tapestry fragment

This XVth century Tournai tapestry fragment has been worked on many times during its long life: it presented important changes in colour, frequent in and typical of an object of this date, significant areas of loss and many bare warps were also apparent. The first stage of the treatment involved a careful surface cleaning, the fragment was very dry and fragile to the touch, due to the accumulation of fine particles of dust over the centuries in and on the weave ; the fibres were rehydrated by the aqueous cleaning treatment on the automated installation.
The final stage was the practical conservation treatment : the fragment was consolidated onto a dyed linen support of a colour that blended with the predominant colours of the fragment. The warps were realigned and fragile areas supported and consolidated ; these are standard phases in a conservation treatment that aims to preserve the object as a whole for the years to come.