How is a 300-year-old tapestry conserved?

Dating from the 17th century, the Solebay tapestry is prized for its intricate details, from burning ships to churning waves.

However, due to its age, size and high silk content, the tapestry is incredibly weak. It is currently undergoing extensive treatment at Zenzie Tinker Conservation, a specialist conservation studio in Brighton. Thanks to your donations, the Solebay tapestry will form the centrepiece of a landmark exhibition at the Queen’s House in 2023.

Here, we share the tapestry’s conservation journey.

One of the first steps in the process involved sending the tapestry to a dedicated wet cleaning facility.

Work was also carried out to strengthen the tapestry’s weak structure, which meant that a new linen backing had to be created.

The conservation team have now begun the stitching work. The process is expected to take 18 months. The conservators use a combination of threads to repair the tapestry, which are carefully colour matched – and, in some instances, dyed – to remain as close to the original threads as possible.

Important elements of the tapestry’s design will also be revived, such as the rigging of the ships’ sails.

Once the stitching is complete, the team will make the final touches, from securing the lining to attaching a strip of contact fastener so the tapestry can be safely hung and displayed.

Click here to watch a film of the conservation process.

Check back for regular updates and behind-the-scenes footage from the project and please share with family and friends who might want to be part of the Solebay story.