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

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

Photo 9. The uniform of Maria Theresia's quard after restoration As the importance of the historical information carried by textile objects increased, methods, which did not include covering either side of a painted flag were sought after. Unfortunately, no suitable conservation method for achieving this goal with flags in very deteriorated condition has been invented up to now. 'Adhesive methods' have been developed since the 60s for conservation of deteriorated silk flags. First, a piece of fine crepelin was dyed to the appropriate colour, and then sprayed with a solution or a dispersion of an adhesive. After the adhesive layer dried, the support fabric and the original one were fixed together by heat-sealing. (Heat-sealing means that the dry adhesive is softened with the help of a hot spatula and the impregnated fabric is pressed to the original textile.) On an experimental level, also threads impregnated with an adhesive were laid down onto the deteriorated parts of the silk and instead of sewing they were fixed by heatsealing as it was done with a 18th century flag [6] (Photo 10, 11, 12). This type of conservation is still a subject of discussion among textile conservators. The latter method, namely to stick threads onto deteriorated textile has been refused completely. Adhesion technique applied to very deteriorated silk, objects, which could not survive sewing but should be preserved for the future are considered ethical by the majority of textile conservators. Especially if the adhesive applied can be removed later without causing harm to the original object.