Feather conservation presents many problems in both cleaning and repair. The size, delicacy, and composite nature of so much featherwork necessitates compromises to provide solutions which will be beneficial to all the materials involved. The composition and structure of feathers are briefly outlined before discussing the basic cleaning methods currently in use at the British Museum, including some modifications for dealing with composite objects. For conservation, featherwork can be dry-cleaned in a vacuum, bathed in water containing a detergent, and rinsed with alcohol. Cracks can be repaired using a splint of a suitable material (made from new feathers, possibly dyed with protein dyes) and a polyvinyl acetate adhesive.