BOOK REVIEW 2159

Introduction to the Preventive Conservation of Textiles
A book by Christos Karydis

Publisher: Futura Publications ISBN: 960-6654-08-7 Year: 2006 Language: Greek Prefaces by Prof. Helen Ioakeimoglou - Technological Educational Institute, Conservation of Antiquities & Works of Art Department and Prof. Katerina Korre-Zografou - University of Athens- History and Folklore Department

The development of preventative strategies for large textile collections in the long term use is essential. The idea of this book came to the author after his PhD research of the textile collections of the most important Orthodox monastic centre in the Eastern Church called Holy Mountain of Athos. Results from the surveys of fourteen inhabitant monasteries suggest the need to prioritise preventive conservation, rather than interventive conservation. The recently published book advises ecclesiastical custodians, such as the monks of Mount Athos, as well as students in the fields of conservation and archaeology, curators and others who have limited experience in the preservation of textiles.
This book develops awareness among non-specialists, underlines the current preventive conservation policy, proposes documentation methods, deals with indoor environmental conditions, pest control and freezing methods for treating infected objects, archival materials, methods of storage and the display of two - and three - dimensional textiles based on modern museological ethics.

The book is divided into the following chapters:

1. Preventive Conservation
2. Documentation
2.1. Sampling: Method & Greek Law
2.2. Fibre Identification (Analytical Equipment Techniques)
2.3. Primary Weaving Techniques
3. Main Chemical, Mechanical & Biological Types of Damages
4. Environmental Conditions:
4.1. Relative Humidity-Temperature
4.2. Lighting
4.2.1. Types of Museum Lighting
5. Insect Attack and the protection of textiles
6. Pollution & Dust
7. Transportation
8. Water Disaster: First Aids
9. Storage:
9.1. Storage Materials
9.2. Storage Materials: Finishing Removals
10. Conservation:
10.1. Ethical Considerations for the Conservation of the Orthodox Ecclesiastical Textiles
10.2. Detergents
11. List of International Organisations in Conservation, Museum Studies and Culture Heritage
12. Further Reading List
13. References
14. Appendixes: Documentation Report for Textile artefacts

Contact

More information or inquiries should be directed to:
Christos Karydis, c.karydis@gmail.com,
or to the publisher, futura@ath.forthnet.gr