MCI's textiles conservators work on various textile objects including carpets, tapestries, clothing, upholstered furniture, fiber art, and more. Conservation activities include examination, documentation, treatment, and preventive care, supported by research and education.

Top Stories

Mary Ballard, Senior Textile Conservator
Textile Conservation Interview

The Textile Conservator from the Smithsonian's Museum Conservation Institute talks about her conservation work and projects.
Various mounting and display styles for costumes
Styles of Costume Mounting & Display

Styles of Costume Mounting & Display: Full Figure 3-Dimensional, Partial Figure 3-Dimensional, Invisible 3-Dimensional, Off-Figure 2-Dimensional, Invisible 2-Dimensional, Off-Figure Stands, and Dual Purpose: Display +.
Vacuuming Textiles: A New Kind of Cost Benefit Analysis
Vacuuming Textiles: A New Kind of Cost Benefit Analysis

With inexpensive instruments, we can measure the forces acting on textiles during vacuuming and ultimately use this data to establish more standardized methods of gentle and effective vacuuming.

 

 
Gently Vacuumed
Gently Vacuumed: A term widely used, but rarely measured!

"Carefully vacuumed" is often used to describe the initial cleaning treatment of accessioned museum objects and carried out throughout the Smithsonian Institution museums and in museums, archives, and historical societies around the country.