Conservation and restoration of flags and banners

Karen France, Curator with the Naval History & Heritage Command, examines the World War II battle flag of the destroyer USS Zellars (DD 777) after its recent conservation

The conservation and restoration of flags and banners is the process by which conservators work to preserve and restore flags and banners from future deterioration and damage. As a part of Conservation of Textiles, flag and banner conservation require the care of a skilled and well trained textile conservator, specifically trained in historical materials.

Material Identification

Historical Flags are often made of silk, cotton, linen, or thin wool bunting.[1] These materials were used in the making of flags, primarily in the U.S. until the mid 20th century. Forensic examination of flags, to the level of examining the fibers of the fabrics themselves, and the threads used to sew the flags, helps identify the period of the materials used and usually is a good indicator of the period of a flag (though not necessarily, in the case of a forgery).[2] These materials can be very fragile and require advanced conservation techniques. Conservators are experts in stabilization and preservation of historic fabrics, flags may be in a variety of conditions from good condition to tattered fragments.[3] Silk and wool are protein fibers whereas cotton and linen are vegetable fibers. The process by which they deteriorate will vary greatly and needs to be carefully addressed during conservation and preservation.[4] Nowadays many flags are made of a synthetic blend or nylon materials, which have their own unique requirements for preservation and care.

Admiral Franklin Buchanan 19th century Confederate Flag, before conservation
Admiral Franklin Buchanan 19th century Confederate Flag, after conservation

Common Causes of Damage

Flag condition often relates to their usage during the war, so some of the most historically significant examples show the greatest damage.[5] However, flags were not limited to damage from war, such as bullet holes or blood stains - which have specific treatments themselves - but also damage from natural elements such as wind, light exposure, temperature, humidity and pest infestation.

Common Treatments and Handling

  1. Avoid pests- Keep the area clean a clear of clutter and inspect often.
  2. Prevent pest colonization- follow routine pest management.

If pest infestation occurs it is important to act fast by following the IPM plan and consulting a trusted pest control professional. If individual pieces are attacked it is important to isolate them immediately in a plastic bag or sealed between to sheets of plastic and tape and then proceed with the IPM.[14]

  1. Recognize pests- what kind of infestation do you have?
  2. Assess the pest problem- how pervasive is the problem?
  3. Solve the pest problem- follow the IPM and consult a pest control professional
  4. Review IMP procedure[15]

Storage

It is important to consider proper textile storage in the design plan of your storage facility. This room should have limited access, in the interior of the building, with no exposure to outside light, temperature controlled, and properly installed monitoring equipment. Like other organic materials, textiles can deteriorate very quickly under fluctuating temperatures and humidity levels.[16] Flags and banner are no exception to this so proper storage is critical in preservation.

References

  1. ↑ "Flags and Banners". Museum Textile Services., LLC. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  2. ↑ "Natural Protein Fibers". The Textile School. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "Wisconsin's Civil War Battle Flags: From the Collections of the Wisconsin Veteran's Museum". Wisconsin Battle Flags.com. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  4. ↑ "Cellulosic Fibers". The Textile School. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  5. ↑ "Wisconsin's Civil War Battle Flags: From the Collections of the Wisconsin Veteran's Museum". Wisconsin Battle Flags.com. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  6. ↑ Hearle, JWS; Lomas, B.; Cooke, W.D. (1998). Atlas of Fibre Fracture and Damage to Textiles. Elsevier. p. 360.
  7. ↑ Conservation Concerns. Washington, DC: Cooper Hewitt- Smithsonian. p. 85. ISBN 9781560981749.
  8. ↑ Museum Registration Methods (5th ed.). Washington, DC: The AAM Press. 2010. p. 378. ISBN 9780838911228.
  9. ↑ Museum Registration Methods (5th ed.). Washington, DC: The AAM Press. 2010. p. 376. ISBN 9780838911228.
  10. ↑ Museum Registration Methods (fifth ed.). Washington, DC: The AAM Press. 2010. p. 297. ISBN 978-0-8389-1122-8.
  11. ↑ Landry, Gregory; et.al. (2000). The Winterthur Guide to Caring for Your Collection. Singapore: Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data. p. 71. ISBN 9780912724522.
  12. ↑ Landry, Gregory; et.al. (2000). The Winterthur Guide to Caring for Your Collection. Singapore: Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data. p. 71. ISBN 9780912724522.
  13. ↑ Landry, Gregory; et.al. (2000). The Winterthur Guide to Caring for Your Collection. Singapore: Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data. p. 71. ISBN 9780912724522.
  14. ↑ Landry, Gregory; et.al. (2000). The Winterthur Guide to Caring for Your Collection. Singapore: Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data. p. 71. ISBN 9780912724522.
  15. ↑ "Flags and Banners". Museum Textile Services., LLC. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  16. ↑ Bachmann, Konstanze (1992). Conservation Concerns. Smithsonian Books. pp. 69–96. ISBN 978-1-56098-174-9.
  17. ↑ Bachmann, Konstanze (1992). Conservation Concerns. Washington, DC: Cooper Hewitt- Smithsonian. p. 93. ISBN 9781560981749.
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