Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco conservation staff dressing a mannequin

Textile conservation

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Located at the de Young, the George and Marie Hecksher Textile Conservation Center manages the preservation, conservation, and scientific study of the permanent textile collection, which currently numbers more than 14,000 pieces. The textile collection contains monumental tapestries, archaeological fragments, contemporary fiber art, and clothing and accessories.  This varied collection requires us to be knowledgeable about textile making techniques, such as spinning, dyeing, weaving, and tailoring, from cultures around the world

Stabilizing a textile for display can mean custom dyeing a sheer fabric support and securing tears using silk monofilament. To prepare historic clothing for display, we recreate underpinnings, such as corsets and petticoats, to provide the correct period silhouette.

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