A sticky subject: an evaluation of past adhesive treatments on 19th century costume

Abstract

The evaluation of past conservation treatments has often been described as a necessity in order to inform future standards of conservation best practice and build on the knowledge available to the future of conservation. However, the growing demands on todays conservation professionals often dictates the time available for evaluative research.
In an attempt to highlight the growing importance of reflective practice in a profession which is continually evolving, this dissertation outlines the significance which should be placed on the historic context of conservation decisions and how this can be used to as a tool to progress. It examines adhesive treatments undertaken on two items of costume from the National Museums Scotland collection undertaken by Karen Finch in the late 1960s - 70s. Archival records and interviews provide substantiation for investigating the resulting implications of an experimental technique during the early stages of its development. It outlines the value which can be placed on practice based learning whilst outlining its limitations when applied in the context of a discipline which relies on careful consideration of interventive treatment.