A Veszprém Megyei Múzeumok Közleményei 21. (Veszprém, 2000)

Egervári Márta: Négy textilborítású legyező restaurálása a Laczkó Dezső Múzeum gyűjteményéből

RESTORATION OF FOUR TEXTIL-COVER FANS FROM THE MUSEUM "LACZKÓ DEZSŐ" COLLECTION In this article, after a short summary of the origin and history of fans, the materials and production techniques of the fans found in the collection of the Veszprém Museum "Laczkó Dezső" are briefly described. As a textile restorer, I am principally involved with the restoration of fans with textile overlay. Various problems arise in connection with the conservation of objects made from a combination of materials, and their restoration is an exciting professional challenge. In the article, four fans with textile overlay are presented, together with their restoration and the materials used for this. Some of the treatment methods could be applied to several of the objects, but emphasis is laid on divergent solutions, as these resulted partially from the special damage to individual objects, and partially from the particular manufacturing techniques for these. The textile overlays of the fans with inventory numbers 1.56.58. and 1.56.56. were so patchy and worn with age, that the usual supporting method used in textile restoration could not be applied. The long-term suitability and reversibility of gluing methods is questionable, and so a third solution was chosen. The surviving pieces were sewn in between two sheets of crêpe silk, thus solving the problem of fixing the material, and replacing the original textile overlay. With the above objects, the spokes were easily accessible and repairing them did not cause any problems. This was not so in the case of the fan with inventory number 1.56.55., as the dense spangles were sewn onto the fan after the textile overlay had been attached to both sides of the framework. Several sequins had to be removed, so that the previously prepared and retouched parts could be inserted with tweezers. The sections of individual spokes in need of repair were isolated from the textile using silicon paper until they could be stuck. In the development of a method for the restoration of the forth fan, various requirements had to be met. Firstly, that the attainment of the original size should be solved and no longer be lacking, secondly, that the previous, unsuitable backing should be removed and another gluing method should not be used, and thirdly, it should be ensured that the object, which had fallen apart into its components, should be held together in such a way that the aesthetic enjoyment of the face of the fan should not be lost in any way. Because of the condition of the silk overlay of the fan, it is not possible for the material to be sewn. Additional pieces of a similar material to the original silk were only used where sections were missing. As support from the back side of the cloth, transparent crêpe silk was chosen. The material is fixed in position by two strands of silk, laid 1.5 cm apart, following the curve of the object, and held by stitches at the turns of the pleats in the fan. In these positions, the needle pricks cannot damage the fragile silk, as the material has already come apart. 214