Műtárgyvédelem, 2012-2013 (Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum)
Fémfonalakkal díszített Esterházy nyeregtakarók restaurálása
Tóth Márta • Fémfonalakkal hímzett Esterházy nyeregtakarók restaurálása embroideries became loose and deformed for lack of the requisite textile support. Much of the decoration became detached or was lost. Restoring the embroidered saddlecloths has been one of the main tasks at the Museum over the last twenty years. This paper presents the experiences gained in cleaning, conserving, and restoring the artefacts. It also gives an account of the complex and sometimes intractable problems encountered with the metal-thread embroideries in the collection. After removal of the dust, the surfaces covered with metal thread were brushed with softened water to loosen where possible the corrosion products there; those loosened were removed using blotting paper. Cleaning was continued using a 70% solution of ethyl alcohol in water. This also served to remove remains of mould. Where the corrosion proved stubborn, attempts were made to remove it using an eraser, too. The cleaning attempts were largely successful, depending on the condition of the metal-thread embroidery and the degree of the corrosion. Also, experiments were carried out with movable anode procedure and with wiping the surfaces with pieces of textile soaked in a solution of barium sulphate. Before the wet cleaning of the saddlecloths, it was necessary to reattach those metal threads which had come away. This was done by means of thread brought through from the reverse side. After cleaning with a mixture of emulsion and water, the textiles were reinforced from behind as necessary. A szerző cime/Author’s address: Tóth Márta Textilrestaurátor művész/Textile conservator MA Tel.: +36-30-601-2909 E-mail: textilrestaurator@gmail.com 67
