Indian wall hanging

A private client requested conservation of a complex textile with goldwork embroidery. The aims were to improve the stability and appearance of the textile and make it ready for display.

The treatment plan was to secure loose embroidery threads, restore missing goldwork, and camouflage areas where there were gaps in the silk.

The most obvious places where gold embroidery had been lost were restored using new gold threads. The new threads are more shiny than the old ones, and the expectation is that they will naturally tarnish and blend in with the original threads over time.

The gaps in the silk were camouflaged using Japanese paper, which blends in better than using textile as it looks more ‘neutral’ due to its lack of weave structure and translucency. Each piece of Japanese paper was individually painted to match the area where it would be placed.

The textile now looks neater and less damaged, and is ready for display in the client’s home.