Nineteenth- and twentieth-century clothing abounds in museum and historical society collections, and most families have at least one heirloom garment.
It is rarely strong enough to withstand the rigors of commercial dry cleaning, and therefore conservation cleaning is the safest option.
Custom manikin and crinoline.
Hand-made petticoat.
Back of mounted dress.
Images Courtesy National Park Service, Longfellow House – Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site.
Because of its complex three-dimensional construction, disparate materials, and often rigorous use, historic clothing presents its own unique set of challenges to the textile conservator. Whether it is to be worn by successive generations or saved for posterity, conservation-quality display and storage are a must for historic clothing.
There have never before been so many safe and effective ways to display three-dimensional clothing. From custom Andover Figures™ manikins and suspension forms, to frames and shadow boxes, Museum Textile Services uses hand stitching and rare-earth magnets to create dramatic archival mounting solutions. Custom forms allow clothing to fit perfectly every time without damage or additional fittings.
Custom-made Andover Figures magnetic display mounts with UV-filtering acrylic cases.
Shirley Temple “Little Colonel” dress, before conservation.
Shirley Temple “Little Colonel” dress, before conservation.