Conserving a Delicate 18th-Century Fan | Museum Conservation Behind the Scenes

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