Endrei Walter szerk.: Textilipari Múzeum Évkönyve 8. 1995 (Budapest, 1995)

dr. Ágnes Balázsy: "A stitch in time saves nine" - ethical aspects of textile conservation

A 16th century child's coat was restored some years ago [3]. The object underwent already a restoration in 1953 when it was separated into its pieces and layers and many alterations were carried out. In the course of the recent restoration disassembling the coat was carried out not only for the conservation of the individual pieces but for regaining its original form. The conservator removed the stitches of the previous conservator, because this was the only possibility to get rid off the alterations and support the fabric of the coat (Photo 5,6). Signes of previous conservation are, however, not removed in these days, according to recent rules of conservation ethics unless they are disfiguring or very disturbing, or are necessary to increase the physical stability and give back the originality of the object. The investigations carried out before making a plan to conservation also involve ethical questions. All materials of the textile including its fibres, dyes, finishes, eventually metal threads and other decorations must be investigated for their materials and condition. The results have to be documented thoroughly. If experiments involving different chemical treatments must be carried out, they should be tried at first on 'model' materials and not on the original object. Photo 5. The 16th century child's coat before the first restoration