Join us for a rare opportunity as Te Papa Textile Conservator Rachael Collinge and Specialist Costume Mount Maker Sam Gatley take you behind the scenes as they describe the collaborative work undertaken by a small group of specialists to conserve and mount a Regency era gown.
This c.1820s gown with a fascinating history is made of silk net embellished with pale blue silk satin trims and blonde Chantilly lace. It was gifted to the Museum in 1982 but the original silk net had degraded to the extent that it could not be displayed. A shockingly full and irreversible remedial treatment was started in the 1990s but put aside before completion.
During the pandemic, time was afforded to re-examine this garment, unique in the Te Papa collection. The dress had been taken apart and the original surface trims removed from the silk
net and attached to replacement net skirt panels.
In this talk Rachael and Sam will take us thorough remedial conservation practices and the ethical considerations and changing attitudes that influence conservation approaches. They will share with you the conservation challenges and the decisions made to complete this conservation project. They will discuss custom mount making for period costume and reflect upon the issue of displaying period costume with facsimile elements.
We will also be joined by Te Papa Senior Curator NZ Histories & Cultures to bring to life the history of the Regency Era.
The stunning dress itself will also be on display, which has to be seen to be appreciated in all its glory!
Rachael Collinge is Kaitiaki Taonga Textiles at Te Papa. Rachael works with textiles across the different collection disciplines including period dress. As conservator she undertakes remedial conservation treatments and advises on preventative conservation measures for collection care and display.
Sam Gatley is a specialist costume mount maker who works part time within Te Papa’s object support team. Sam has worked on blockbuster dress exhibitions and with varied museum collections around the UK before settling in Aotearoa.