
Click on above photo
for more information.
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Election Jacket
One of the most fragile items cleaned by us was a blue silk / satin Election Jacket belonging to a
Mr George Courtauld III who in 1877 stood as Liberal Candidate for the Essex Borough of Maldon. The
jacket was sent to The National Trust Textile Workshop by Braintree Museum. As the
jacket was extremely dirty, before conservation could begin the jacket had to be cleaned. This project
was also entered into a Conservation Award.
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for before & after.
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Brodsworth Hall Curtains
Dating from 1863, a set of 16 crimson wool curtains from Brodsworth Hall in South Yorkshire was sent to The
National Trust Textile Conservation Workshop by English Heritage. The National Trust asked us
about the possibility of cleaning the very dirty and stained curtains. The successful results can be
seen from the pictures. The project was entered into The Museums & Galleries Commission Awards
for Conservation.
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for more.
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Norwich Shawls
Among the many items cleaned over the years, the most satisfying has been a collection of Norwich Shawls.
During the 18th/ 19th Century Norwich was the main centre in England for shawl weaving and a large
collection was bequeathed to Strangers Hall Museum in Norwich. Four years ago these were put on
display at Norwich Castle Museum, but before they were exhibited, our Company cleaned the whole
collection with excellent results because the beauty and colour of the shawls was revealed. The oldest
shawl - a handloom shawl - was dated 1792.
A book entitled "Norwich Shawls" can be purchased from The Stationery Office
(Tel: 0171 873 9090).
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for larger images.
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Ecclesiastical Vestments
Ecclesiastical vestments are items that need a great deal of care taken over them during the cleaning
process and regular cleaning of these items is frequently neglected. This cape and hood are from the
latter half of the 19th Century and come from Blakeney church in North Norfolk. Both these items are being
restored by the Norwich Cathedral Broderers Guild. We cleaned both items with great success
before they were restored.
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for larger images.
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Pole Screens and Samplers
Pole Screens and Samplers are items that we have been asked to clean over the years. Sunlight fading
is the biggest problem in this category as this removes the brightness of the colours. Dry-cleaning,
however, does add to the colour by removing the accumulated dirt.
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for more images.
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Tapestries
We have cleaned several tapestries over the years and one of the more unusual ones is the Panorama
of the Norfolk Coast which now hangs in The Shell Museum at Glanford, Norfolk. This tapestry was
cleaned by us in 1996 for the first time in its history. Created by John Craske (1881 - 1943), a local
craftsman, this original tapestry measures 176" x 16" and was generously presented to the museum by
the executors of his estate.
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