Hello! Question from a non-textiles specialist here. We have just removed around a dozen historic handkerchiefs (silk, cotton, etc.) from long term exhibition and are preparing them to go back to storage. These are all in relatively sound condition. Some have fringe at the edges or small areas of embroidery. Some have been exhibited folded. These are unlikely to be accessed frequently or require much handling once returned to storage, but we do have a critical shortage of storage space. I keep changing my mind about whether or not to recommend storing them flat (stacked and interleaved with tissue inside an acid free cardboard box), or rolled between sheets of a/f tissue and/or sheets of Mylar and supported within an acid free cardboard box, but I’m leaning toward rolling so that they’re not being crushed under the weight of the stack, and less likely to shift around within the box. I thought I should get an opinion on the latest thinking from the textiles conservation community. Any recommendations?

Thanks!

Dee Stubbs-Lee, CAPC, MA

Conservator / Restauratrice

New Brunswick Museum/

Musée du Nouveau-Brunswick

277 Douglas Avenue

Saint John, New Brunswick

E2K 1E5

Canada

(506)643-2341