Conservation of the headboard and valances of George I Bed, Houghton Hall

Description

English state bed decorated with embroidered and cord quilted fine linen.

Client brief

Stabilize for continued open display in a historic house.

Condition before treatment

Condition of all textile elements, overall good; some exposed surfaces of the headboard had been abraided; worn holes through top linen layer revealed the quilting cord.

Treatment

Undertaken on site at historic house. Following surface cleaning all loose threads were secured with a combination of stitching and adhesive techniques. The lower headboard received a full stitched suppport.

Condition after treatment

Following treatment, previously loose quilting cord was more stable; the quilted design was more decipherable as a result of cord reailgnment.

Acknowledgements

Reproduced courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and the Textile Conservation Centre, University of Southampton. Textile Conservation Centre, University of Southampton © 2009.

[TCC 2278]

Kate Gill, Project manager & conservator

Treatment completed 2005