TSG Chapter VI. Treatment of Textiles - Section I. Consolidation/Stabilization - Adhesive Methods

Contributors: Kate Clive-Powell, Joanne Hackett, Jackie Peterson-Grace, Karen Thompson.

Further Reading

Properties of Adhesion and Adhesives

Allen, K. "Adhesion and Adhesives - Some Fundamentals." In Adhesives and Consolidants: Pre-Prints of IIC Paris Congress, 2-8 September, edited by N. Brommelle, E. Pye, P. Smith and G. Thomson, 5-12. London: IIC, 1984.

Down, Jane L. Adhesive Compendium for Conservation. Ottawa: Canadian Conservation Institute. 2015

Down, Jane. Maureen MacDonald, Jean Tetreault, and R.Scott Williams. "Adhesive Testing at the Canadian Conservation Institute: An Evaluation of Selected Poly(Vinyl Acetate) and Acrylic Adhesives." Studies in Conservation 41, no. 1 (1996): 19-44.

Down, Jane L. "The Evaluation of Selected Poly(Vinyl Acetate) and Acrylic Adhesives: A Final Research Update." Studies in Conservation  (2014): 1-22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/2047058414Y.0000000129.

Down, Jane L. "The Effect of Modifiers on the Stability of a Vinyl Acetate/Ethylene Copolymer Dispersion." Studies in Conservation  (2014): 1-20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/2047058414Y.0000000130. 

Feller, Robert L., and Myron Wilt. Evaluation of Cellulose Ethers for Conservation.  Marina del Rey, California: Getty Conservation Institute, 1990.

Horie, Velson. Materials for Conservation. London: Butterworth Heinemann, 1995.

Horie, Velson. Materials for Conservation: Organic Consolidant, Adhesives and Coatings. 2nd ed. Oxon: Routledge, 2010.

Karsten, Irene, and Jane Down. "The Effect of Adhesive Concentration, Reactivation Time, and Pressure on the Peel Strength of Heat and Solvent-Activated Lascaux 360/498 HV Bonds to Silk." In Pre-prints of the ICOM CC 14th Triennial The Hague 12-16 September 2005, edited by Isabelle Verger, 927-35. London: James & James Publishers, 2005.

Karsten, Irene, and Nancy Kerr. "The Properties and Light Stability of Silk Adhered to Sheer Silk and Polyester Support Fabrics with Poly(Vinyl Acetate) Copolymer Adhesives." Studies in Conservation 47, no. 3 (2002): 195-210.

Karsten, Irene, and Nancy Kerr. "Peel Strength of Silk and Nylon Textiles Adhered to Sheer Support Fabrics " In Symposium 2011, Adhesives and Consolidants for Conservation: Research and Applications: Proceedings CCI Symposium, 385-404. Ottawa, Canada, 2011.

Ploeger, Rebecca, Chris W. McGlinchey & E. René de la Rie. “Original and reformulated BEVA® 371: Composition and assessment as a consolidant for painted surfaces.” Studies in Conservation 60, no.4 (2015): 217-226. http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/2047058414Y.0000000132.

Pretzel, Boris. "Evaluating the use of adhesives in textile conservation  Part II: Tests and evaluation matrix." The Conservator, no. 21 (1997): 48-58.

Tímár-Balázsy, Agnes, and Dinah Eastop. Chemical Principles of Textile Conservation. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 1998.

Tinker, Zenzie. "Workshop Notes on Thermoplastic Adhesives." Conservation News, no. 48 (1992): 39-41.

Shashoua, Yvonne, and Alice Rugheimer. "An Evaluation of the Use of Cellulose Ethers in Paper Conservation at the British Museum." In Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference of the Institute of Paper Conservation, London, April 1997, edited by J. Egan, 150-59. London: IPC, 1997.

Application Techniques

Bilson, Tom. "The Conservation of a Roman Egyptian Painted Shroud Fragment." The Conservator, no. 16 (1992): 3-11.

Chen, Chuance. "Preparation of a tengujo adhesive support for use on painted silk." In Considering Costume: The Conservation, Apparel, Adornment, and Accessories, 14th North American Textile Conservation Conference Preprints, 440-451. 2023.

Cotte, Sabine "An Evaluation of the Role of Semi-Transparent Relining in the Conservation of Thangka Paintings." Studies in conservation 52, no. 1 (2007): 2-12.

Cruickshank, Pippa, Helene Delaunay, and Lynne Harrison. "Painted Textiles and Canvas Paintings: A Collaborative Approach to Lining and Mounting." The Conservator 30, (2007): 5-18.

De Stefani, Caroline, Cordelia Rogerson, and Arthur Green. "Evaluating Cross-Disciplinary Working: The Application of Textile Conservation Adhesive Techniques to Book Conservation." Journal of the Institute of Conservation 34, no. 1 (March 2011): 90-103.

Gentle, Nicola. "The Examination and Conservation of Two Indian Textiles." The Conservator, no. 17 (1993): 19-25.

Gill, Kate, and Foekje Boersma. "Solvent Reactivation of Hydroxypropyl Cellulose (Klucel G®) in Textile Conservation: Recent Developments." The Conservator 21, (1997): 12-20.

Haldane, Elizabeth-Anne. "Notes on a new method of application for Klucel G®: substrate-free adhesive films developed for use on a fragile appliqued and embroidered textile." Conservation News, no. 73 (November 2000): 64.

Haldane, Elizabeth-Anne. "Encounters with Paper Conservation: The Treatment of a Chinese Painted Silk Dress." V&A Conservation Journal, no.49 (Spring 2005), http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/journals/conservation-journal/issue-49/encounters-with-paper-conservation-the-treatment-of-a-chinese-painted-silk-dress/

Kronthal, Lisa, Judith Levinson, Carole Dignard, Esther Chao, and Jane Down. "Beva 371 and Its Use as an Adhesive for Skin and Leather Repairs: Background and a Review of Treatments." Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, (2003): 341-62. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3180075.

Lennard, Frances. "The Conservation of the United Tin Plate Workers' Society Banner." The Conservator, no. 13 (1989): 3-7.

Lennard, Frances, Nancy Pollak, Chunmei Lin, and Wan-Ping Chen. "Blue Flag with Yellow Tiger?  Flags, Authenticity and Identity." The Conservator 36, no. 1 (2013): 3-17.

Lochhead, Vivian. "Conservation of Painted Trade Union Banners." In Lining and backing: the support of paintings, paper and textiles: papers delivered at the UKIC Conference, 7-8 November 1995, 96-101. London: United Kingdom Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, 1995.

McClean, Lynn, and Elizabeth-Anne Haldane. "Avendale for Reformation: Conservation of a 17th Century Covenanting Banner " In The Preprints of the North American Textile Conservation Conference 2003: Tales in the Textile: The Conservation of Flags and Other Symbolic Textiles, edited by J Vuori, 143-45. NATCC, 2003.

McLeod, Miriam. "Powdery Paint: The Use of Funori with an Indian Jain Painting." In Taking the rough with the smooth: Issues and solutions for decorated surfaces, edited by Alison Fairhurst, 17-25. Victoria and Albert Museum, London: ICON Textile Group, 2012.

Muir, N.T. "Conservation of Painted Flags Using Beva 371." Conservation News, no. 26 (1985): 24-25.

Peterson-Grace, Jacquelyn. “Third Time’s the Charm? Revisiting Schiaparelli’s Shattered Silks.” Lessons Learned: Textile Conservation – Then and Now, 12th North American Textile Conservation Conference Preprints, edited by Howard Sutcliffe, Joel Thompson, Hector Manuel Meneses Lozano, Esther Méthé, Denise Migdail, Amanda Holden and Elizabeth Schaeffer, 101–118. NATCC, 2019.

Pollack, Nancy R. "Moving Pictures: Adapting Painting Conservation Techniques to the Treatment of Painted Textiles." In The Preprints of the North American Textile Conservation Conference 2003: Tales in the Textile: The Conservation of Flags and Other Symbolic Textiles, edited by J Vuori, 127-34. NATCC, 2003.

Shaeffer, Elizabeth. “An “Olympe-ic” Marathon: Technical Study and Adhesive Stabilization of a Madame Olympe Ensemble.” Considering Costume: The Conservation, Apparel, Adornment, and Accessories, 14th North American Textile Conservation Conference Preprints (2023): 117-135.

Takami, Mika. "The Conservation of a Korean Painted Silk Banner, C.1800: Paint Analysis and Support Via Solvent-Reactivated Acrylic Adhesive." In ICOM CC 13th Triennial Meeting, Rio de Janeiro, 22-27 September 2002, Preprints, edited by Roy Vontobel, 747-54: London: James & James, 2002.

Thompson, Karen. "Lascaux™ - Its Use as a Substrate Free Film." Conservation News, no. 74 (2001): 45-46.

Reviews of Past Treatments

Hartog, Frances, and Zenzie Tinker. "Sticky Dresses - The Re-conservation of Three Early 19th Century Dresses." In Postprints of the 3rd Annual Adhesives Forum of the Textile Section of UKIC, edited by Jane Lewis, 12-26. London: UKIC, 1998.

Hackett, Joanne and Lynda Hillyer. “Adhesives in Textile Conservation: A Survey of 60 Years of Adhesive Use at the V&A.” In Lessons Learned: Textile Conservation – Then and Now, 12th North American Textile Conservation Conference Preprints, edited by Howard Sutcliffe, Joel Thompson, Hector Manuel Meneses Lozano, Esther Méthé, Denise Migdail, Amanda Holden and Elizabeth Schaeffer, 200-218. NATCC, 2019.

Hillyer, Lynda. "Advances in Adhesive Techniques - The Conservation of Two Coptic Tunics at the Victoria and Albert Museum." In Textile Conservation: Advances in Practice, edited by Frances Lennard and Patricia Ewer. 181-88. Oxford: Elsevier, 2010.

Hillyer, Lynda, Zenzie Tinker, and Poppy Singer. "Evaluating the Use of Adhesives in Textile Conservation. Part 1: An Overview and Survey of Current Use." The Conservator 21 (1997): 37-47.

Karsten, Irene F., and Nancy Kerr. "The Effectiveness of Adhesive Support Treatments for Flags and Banners: Condition of Treated Artefacts in Canada and the UK." In The Preprints of the North American Textile Conservation Conference 2003: Tales in the Textile: The Conservation of Flags and Other Symbolic Textiles, edited by J Vuori, 155-66. NATCC, 2003.

Kite, Marion, and Albertina Cogram. "Re-Evaluation and Retreatment. The Reconservation and Remounting of an English Court Mantua." Studies in Conservation 51 (2002): 111-22.

Lennard, Frances, and Vivian Lochhead. "United We Stand!  The Conservation of Trade Union Banners. Tales in Textiles, the Conservation of Flags and Other Symbolic Textiles." In The Preprints of the North American Textile Conservation Conference 2003: Tales in the Textile: The Conservation of Flags and Other Symbolic Textiles, edited by J Vuori, 111-18. NATCC, 2003.

Meijer, Suzan. 2014. "Bonding issues? Adhesive treatments past and present in the Rijksmuseum". In ICOM-CC 17th Triennial Conference Preprints, Melbourne, 15–19 September 2014, edited by J. Bridgeland. Paris: International Council of Museums, 2014.

Meijer, Suzan, and Marjolein Koek. “Learning from a Treatment That Did Not Go as Planned: The Use of an Adhesive Support Technique on an 1860s Dress.” In The Textile Specialty Group Postprints 27, edited by Elizabeth Shaeffer, Julia Carlson, Kira Eng-Wilmot, Anne Getts, Kathleen Kiefer and Bernice Morris, 111-123. Textile Specialty Group of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC): 2017.

Reiter, Sara, Howard Sutcliffe, Ken Sutherland, and Beth Price. 2005. "Second Time's the Curse: The Shattered Silks of Schiaparelli." In The Textile Specialty Group postprints. 33rd Annual Meeting Textile Specialty Session, American Institute for Conservation. Washington, DC: AIC. 43-49.

Tinker, Zenzie. "Pragmatism with Past Adhesive Treatments." In Symposium 2011, Adhesives and Consolidants for Conservation: Research and Applications: Proceedings CCI Symposium, 503-516. Ottawa, Canada, 2011.

Thompson, Joel, and Masumi Kataoki. "From Mummies to Modern Dress: Adhesive Treatments in Textile Conservation at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston." In Symposium 2011, Adhesives and Consolidants for Conservation: Research and Applications: Proceedings CCI Symposium, 482-502. Ottawa, Canada, 2011.

Starch Based and Modified Cellulose Adhesives: Properties and Application Techniques

Cruickshank, Pippa, and Helen Morgan. "Lining a Banana Fibre Belt: A Cool Vacuum Table Technique." SSCR Journal 4, no. 2 (1993): 10-14.

Cruickshank, Pippa, Monique Pullan, and Jenny Potter. "Recent Treatments of Painted Egyptian Shrouds: The Influence of Condition and Intended Role." The Conservator 23, no. 1 (1999): 37-48.

Daniels, Vincent. "Starch Adhesives." In Starch and Other Carbohydrate Adhesives for Use in Textile Conservation, edited by Pippa Cruickshank and Zenzie Tinker, 11-13. London: UKIC, Textile Section, 1994.

Daniels, Vincent. "The Reversibility of Starch Paste." In Lining and Backing: The Support of Paintings, Paper and Textiles. London: UKIC, 1995.

Kite, Marion, and Pauline Webber. "The Conservation of an English Embroidered Picture Using an Oriental Paper Method: A Joint Approach." The Conservator, no. 19 (1995): 29-35.

Kite, Marion, and Pauline Webber. "The Conservation of an English Embroidered Picture Using an Oriental Paper Method: A Joint Approach (1995)." In Readings in Conservation: Changing Views of Textile Conservation, edited by Mary Brooks and Dinah Eastop. 512-20. Los Angeles: The Getty Institute, 2011.

Petschek, Carla. "The Conservation of Pro-Royalist Painted Silk Panels for a Late 17th Century Folding Screen." In Paper and Textiles:  The Common Ground – Pre-prints of the SSCR Conference, Glasgow, 19-20 September 1991, edited by Fiona Butterfield, and Linda Eaton, 117-23. Edinburgh: SSCR, 1991.

Pullan, Monique. "The Conservation Treatment of a Japanese Folding Screen." In Starch and Other Carbohydrate Adhesives for Use in Textile Conservation, edited by Pippa Cruickshank and Zenzie Tinker, 28-33. London: UKIC, 1995.

Pullan, Monique, and David Singleton. "The Conservation of The Pink Lady, a Roman Egyptian Painted Linen Shroud." In Painted Textiles, Postprints of the forum held at the Museum of London, 21 April 1997, edited by Vivian Lochhead: UKIC Textile Section, 1997.

Wills, Barbara "The Preparation and Use of Two Starch Pastes." In Starch and other Carbohydrate Adhesives for use in Textile Conservation, edited by Pippa Cruickshank and Zenzie Tinker, 20-24. London: UKIC, 1995.

Animal Glues

Haupt, Margaret, Deborah Dyer, and Jim Hanlan. "An Investigation into Three Animal Glues." The Conservator 14 (1990): 10-16.

Foskett, Sarah. "An Investigation into the Properties of Isinglass." SSCR 5, no. 4 (1994): 11-14.

Petukhova, T, and S. D Bonadies. "Sturgeon Glue for Painting Consolidation in Russia." JAIC 32 (1993).

Schellmann, Nanke C. "Animal Glues: A Review of Their Key Properties Relevant to Conservation." Reviews in Conservation, no. 8 (2007): 55-66.

Soppa, Karolina, Tilly Laaser, Christoph Krekel, Margaux Genton, and Thuja Seidel. "Adhesion and penetration of sturgeon glue and gelatines with different bloom grades." In ICOM-CC 17th Triennial Conference, Preprints, Melbourne, 15–19 September 2014, edited by J. Bridgland. Paris: International Council of Museums. 2014.

Textile Consolidation

Feng, Zhao, Hu Zhiwen, Zhou Yang, Zhen Hailing, and Huang Xiaofang "Fibroin–EGDE Consolidation: A New Method for Conserving Fragile Silk Textiles." In Symposium 2011, Adhesives and Consolidants for Conservation: Research and Applications: Proceedings CCI Symposium, 428-443. Ottawa, Canada, 2011.

Hodge, Heather. "Mist Consolidation: future treatment potential for deteriorated iron-dyed yarns." Poster presented at the 2022 50th AIC Annual Meeting, L.A. https://www.culturalheritage.org/docs/default-source/publications/annualmeeting/2022-posters/13-mist-consolidation---future-treatment-of-potential-for-deteriorated-iron-dyed-yarns---hodge.pdf?sfvrsn=3aaf1720_5.

McDavid-Conway, Anya, Jakki Godfrey, Bruno P. Pouliot, and Richard Wolbers. “Hair consolidation and Treatment of an Insect Damaged Dancing Hat from Sierra Leone.” In AIC Objects Specialty Group Postprints, Volume 13, 2006, 184-194. https://resources.culturalheritage.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2015/02/osg013-11.pdf

Smith, Catherine A., Rachel A. Paterson, Bronwyn J. Lowe, and Rangi Te Kanawa. “Consolidation of Black-dyed Māori Textile Artefacts: Evaluation the Efficacy of Sodium Alginate.” Studies in Conservation 63, no.3 (2018): 139-154. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00393630.2016.1266150

Smith, Catherine A., Bronwyn J. Lowe, Jano Swart, Patricia Fuentes-Cross, Maia Mistral and Rangi Te Kanawa. “Evaluation Five Consolidants for Five Māori Textile Artefacts.” Studies in Conservation 67, no.5 (2022): 271-288. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00393630.2020.1857524

Stauffer, Annemarie. "A Study of the Conservation Problems of Archaeological Textiles Treated with Synthetic Consolidants (2005)." In Changing Views of Textile Conservation, edited by Mary M. Brooks and Dinah D. Eastop. 553-63. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute, 2011.

Wheeler, George and Stefan Michalski. “A Brief Introduction to Consolidation Issues.” In Adhesive Compendium for Conservation. In Adhesive Compendium for Conservation, edited by Jane Down. Ottawa: Canadian Conservation Institute. 2015.

Zheng, Hailang and Yang Zhou. 2021. “Silk Fibroin Consolidation and Tracking of the Protective Effect on Ancient Saturated Silk Fabrics.” In ICOM-CC 19th Triennial Conference Preprints, Beijing. https://www.icom-cc-publications-online.org/4459/A-subtle-shift--The-care-and-use-of-Indigenous-belongings-after-the-Calls-to-Action