Adhesive use in textile conservation: an update on recent developments and current practice

Abstract

Despite infrequent use in general practice, adhesive treatments have been a topic of
great debate and study throughout the history of textile conservation. From the 1950s
through the end of the 20th century, the re-evaluation of the use of adhesives produced a
strong negative reaction from the profession at large until scientific study, availability of
more appropriate materials, and refinements of techniques led to a more informed debate and
greater comfort in their use. In 1997, a seminal study by Hillyer et al. on attitudes toward
adhesives and their use in practice produced quantifiable data and overall interpretation of the
observed changes. This paper reports on a project that aimed to confirm and update the 1997
results using similar methods of review and analysis of available literature as well as an
international survey and supporting targeted interviews. This study updated the raw data on
adhesives and application techniques in recent and current practice, confirmed a continuing
increase in acceptance of the use of adhesives as a valid treatment option in the support of
textiles, and used those results to identify and suggest manners in which the practice of
adhesive use and conservator’s confidence in it may be further advanced.