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Highlights in this issue

Ceremonial hat for eating Bouillabaisse: Eileen Agar 1936

Marion Kite, Senior Conservator, Textiles Section, Conservation Department

The 'Ceremonial Hat for Eating Bouillabaisse' by British surealist Eileen Agar, was one of the most unusual objects to come to Textiles Conservation for treatment.

Measuring pollution in the museum environment

Nigel Blades, Conservation Scientist, Conservation Department

For the past 18 months the V&A Science Group has been collaborating in a project to identify and quantify pollutant chemicals in cultural property environments.

The tail of the tiger: conservation of a pichhwai fragment

Jenny Potter, Former Textiles Student on the RCA/V&A Conservation Course

Thermoplastic adhesives have become an established treatment in the support of fragile textiles where stitching alone is inappropriate.

The role of the 'barefoot' conservator

Jane Rutherston, Book Conservator, Conservation Department

The expression 'barefoot' conservator is taken from the Chinese 'barefoot' doctor, a paramedical doctor working with basic medical training and going from village to village. This was a new and experimental position ...