Textile Storage

["Matthew Scott" <matthews@ho.hht.nsw.gov.au>]

I am asking for fairly frank advice from institutions with textile /
organic decorative arts collections in storage.

The Resource Centre of the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales
(based in Sydney, Australia), has a diverse reference collection of
domestic decorative items from the 19thC and 20thC available to
researchers and the general public.
The collection includes furnishing fabrics and trimmings, upholstery
remnants, cushions, hassocks, curtains, carpets, rugs, linoleum,
oilcloth, furniture fittings/hardware, wallpapers, architectural
elements and garden ornaments.
The Resource centre has out grown its current space and will be
relocated to a new facility, increasing its profile and level of public
access.
We would like to aim for ideal storage, knowing that compromises will
inevitably be made along the way, but hoping to avoid the worst.
Any information regarding your institutions existing methods of storing
large textiles and similar would be greatly appreciated.
Some of our general questions include:
What style of storage do you use for your textiles/decorative items,
i.e shelves, plan drawers, cabinets etc.  Why was this style of storage
chosen?

Was consideration given to the organisation of frequently used items.
Does it differ from less called upon objects?

What have been the pros and cons of this storage system?  Has it met
expectations or failed

Rolling vs flat.  Has anyone found rolling resulting in damage to the
textile? What criteria do you use to decide whether to roll, hang or
store textiles flat

Has anyone experimented with hanging textiles in storage?

What compromises should be avoided?

Matthew Scott
Conservation Officer
Collections Management Unit
Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales




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