Monmouth Times

We've spent a fun and fascinating week working on the circa 1795 man's triple-cape coat! First up was a close examination of the garment. How was it made? What fabrics, what techniques, what other clues might it hold? Next up, what sort of damage were we looking at? And finally, how could we stabilize the coat? The sturdy garment revealed some amazing details. Three main fabrics were used in its construction: tan wool, a lighter weight wool lining on the torso, linen lining for the sleeves, and dark orange cotton velvet for the collar and cuff trim. The damage to the collar actually was helpful. We were able to see the stiff buckram collar lining along with the stitching used to keep everything in place. Damage was extensive - mostly caused by the pesky case making clothes moth (tinea pellionella for those of you who are interested in the Latin name!) This insect is attracted to protein-based fabrics, making wool a perfect home. We started with basic treatment, including a thorough physical cleaning of the garment. Next up, a light steaming helped relax and "plump up" the fibers. Panels of closely-matched neutral fabric (in this case a cotton flannel) will be used to support the most damaged areas of the coat. The single most amazing thing? Even with all the damage, the garment has each and every one of its original buttons still intact! Stay tuned for our progress next week! 

Original source can be found here.