Join Senior Paper Conservator Susan Catcher as she conserves a fragile 200-year-old fan from the era of Marie Antoinette.
Using specialist conservation techniques (plus plenty of patience and a porcupine quill!) Susan addresses the structural integrity of the fan – reinforcing the back and creating a hinge to allow it to open and close once again. She also re-adheres fiddly loose sequins, stabilises areas of wear, and subtly retouches the design using watercolour paint.
Steps
- 00:00 Unboxing and opening the fan (ASMR, no talking)
- 00:28 18th-century fan condition
- 01:46 Ethically correct conservation
- 02:14 Re-adhering the sequins
- 02:45 History of fans in 18th century
- 03:36 Hand-stitching
- 03:55 Re-sticking the silver foil with porcupine quill
- 05:19 Adhering lifted areas
- 05:54 Snipping and glueing silk organza
- 07:34 Watercolour retouching
- 07:51 Painting (ASMR)
- 08:36 Reinforcing the back and creating a hinge
- 11:02 Brushing on glue and using tools (ASMR, no talking)
- 12:14 Applying weights
- 12:48 Checking the repair (ASMR, paper peeling)
- 13:22 Glueing the hinge (ASMR, no talking)
- 14:36 Etiquette and communication with fans
- 15:05 Opening the fan (crinkly ASMR, no talking)
- 15:24 Reveal of the conserved fan
