Fabric Of The Library: Discovering Textile Conservation

Join conservator Liz Rose to discover how the British Library is preserving its rich textile collection for future generations

Textiles are numerous but perhaps an unexpected part of the collections at the British Library. These intriguing and delicate items require careful storage, handling and conservation to preserve them for the future.

British Library’s resident textile conservator Liz Rose provides an insight into the exquisite beauty and rich diversity of textiles within the British Library collection - from fabric covers for Torah scrolls and silk escape maps of Berlin, to a Japanese children’s book resembling a baby in a sleeping bag and Captain Cook’s book containing samples of bark cloth from the South Pacific Islands.

Liz will also outline some of common damages to textile items and describe some of the cutting edge techniques that British Library conservators use to ensure they can be enjoyed by future generations.

Please bring your packed lunch. Tea, coffee and cake will be provided.

This event is part of the Feed the Mind series of lunchtime research talks.