EVESHAM DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY
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EVESHAM DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY |
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HERITAGE VOLUNTEERS |
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A NEW VEIL AND BURSE Heritage Volunteers were asked if they could conserve a 19th century ivory silk burse, which had been literally loved to bits. However, we knew our skills did not extend to lifting the exquisite embroidery off the worn and rotted backing, so we recommended that, to preserve it at all, the burse be taken out of use and mounted in a frame. In its place, we offered to make a new veil and burse, using some very fine embroidery from an early 20th century maniple which had become surplus to requirements and had been rescued by one of the group. We cut out two circular motifs from the maniple and secured them to the fabric of the new veil and burse (see close-up photo left). Then we concealed the oversewing by outlining the circle with a double course of gold thread (gilt #2 pearl purl). This had the added benefit of framing the motif and making a feature out of its different background colour. |
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We are sure we spent as long thinking about the ways and means as actually doing the work. This was partly because we wanted to evaluate
different techniques and partly because the instruction book, heroically furnished by our Area Representative, was old and, to our eyes,
less than clear. Sourcing the materials was interesting, leading us to suppliers in London, Edinburgh, Cheshire and Gloucestershire. Group
members exercised ingenuity in making the hinge of the burse, and delicacy in catching down gold, silk and cording. As the whole came together
, we had no regrets about each painstaking step, and we are glad that some lovely work from an earlier era has a chance of a new life where it
will be appreciated.
Sue Bennett, Heritage Volunteers Representative |
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