Projects
Ceremonial coat. The Repair Shop BBC TV
Green velvet coat decorated with embroidered gold braid and cord creating swirling patterns down the sleeves and front of the coat. From the images it appears that the coat may have an interlining which may have been used to take the weight of the embroidery. Lined with a rust-coloured lining.
Loose braid along the hem. Splits at the hem in the velvet. Loss of velvet pile throughout. Discolouration particularly to one side. Fraying and splits at the cuffs. Splits and wear at the collar. The collar is split on the proper left (PL) It is not possible to see the condition of the lining from the images.
Surface cleaned using low powered vacuum suction and brushes to remove surface soiling. To gain access to support the areas of loss, the lining had to be unstitched in places. Patch support – unstitch the lining to gain access to the back of the velvet. Placing a patch (colour matched silk) behind the area of loss. Conservation stitching was worked to hold the patch support and secure the splits. This was done flat on the table using a curved needle and fine polyester thread. Patch support the splits at the hem and secure with conservation stitching and fine polyester thread. Patch support the split at the collar and secure with conservation stitching and fine polyester thread.
