Joy Gallery
The Stuart Chair
Glencoe Folk Museum
Reputedly Prince Charles Edward Stuart’s chair! It was given at his death to MacDonald of Glencoe by the Prince’s daughter Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Albany. The chair is of the Stuart period, c.1660, and the Lyons velvet is the original cover.
The silk velvet upholstery was stabilised onto a specially dyed silk support fabric with a protective net overlay. The chair is happily back on display at Glencoe Folk Museum.
Carpet at Gosford House, East Lothian
A Victorian/Edwardian seamed floor covering of traditional design, measuring 5.32 x 4.93m. It was unable to be moved for conservation, so all the work was completed in situ - stitching with a curved needle lying on the floor for over two weeks!
Holes in the carpet were in-filled using the traditional transfer technique of ‘prick and pounce’ to copy the design onto the support fabric. The carpet now looks complete without having to leave Gosford House to be conserved!
Silk Pelmet, House of Dun
This large silk pelmet is embroidered with silk floss and would have made a bold statement in its day with its bright colours and intricate design. Not to mention the gold coloured braiding (now mostly
lost) and tassels!
We used a combination of adhesive treatment and stitch support to stabilise the silk and mounted the pelmet onto a board. It is now back home and on display at the House of Dun.
George IV Military Colours of the Scots Guards, Falkland Palace
The King’s Colour, one of a pair of George IV Military Colours that were in service in the early 19th century.
Both Colours were cleaned and mounted on boards for display. The display boards have cream coloured in-fills to show the full impact of the Colours. After conservation was completed, the Colours were framed and are on display at Falkland Palace.
Doublet, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum
This red fulled wool doublet has some stories to tell about the military action it has seen. It was important to the Museum, and us that the signs of use were not lost during conservation. Holes and splits were supported but, most importantly, the bullet holes were left open and not in-filled.
A bespoke form was prepared to exhibit the doublet in its new display. We can’t wait for the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum to reopen after their refurbishment!
Towel, Dunfermline Museum and Art Gallery
Sometimes the way an object has been stored can cause problems, and this is one of those cases!
The crease lines from folding were more evident due to dirt that had built up there. Our brief was to clean and prepare this towel for display. We used a combination of wet cleaning and localised bleaching (followed by lots of rinsing) to reduce the discolouration. A display/storage roller was prepared, and the towel was mounted. It is now on display at Dunfermline Museum and Art Gallery.
