Conservation of
Two Miniature Beds
Treatment performed at: Winterthur Museum
Overseen by Conservator: Vicki Cassman
This Page Highlights a Major Component of the Treatment of the Nancy B. McDaniel Dollhouse
Late-twentieth-century miniature beds with inherent vice stemming from a rapidly deteriorating commercial adhesive tape used to adhere miniature bed linens; required the dissaseembly of the beds, the removal of adhesive residues, and reassembly of the bed linens using only polyester thread
This treatment was performed through a collaboration with Karissa Muratore and overseen by textile conservator Vicki Cassman. The troublesome adhesive tape was noted initially for having failed to secure the bed linens, its initial purpose. It was then observed that the adhesive tape was yellowing severely and remained tacky enough to trap dirt and grime. To preserve the bed linens and return the beds to the appearance desired by the collector, Nancy B. McDaniel, the textiles were gently separated. Then the adhesive and all residues were removed with white, rubber erasers. Lastly, polyester thread hardly visible to the naked eye was used to sew the linens back in place, leaving minimal risk of residue or deterioration in the future.