Preservation phases

Mrs. Jessica Hack, a very reputable Textile Conservator in New Orleans, set forth the following preservation process.

Phase I The quilt will be hand dry-cleaned.  Crepeline silk fabric will be used to overlay and stabilize the shattering silk fabric.  This crepeline silk fabric will be dyed and coated with a heat sealing adhesive and then fitted and cut to each size of the 49 squares, the rows between the squares, and the entire borderline.  The overlays will be heat fused to the quilt.  An acid-free storage box will be constructed and provided for the storage of the quilt.  Mrs. Hack’s price for this phase is $11,700.  She requires half of this amount to begin the project–possibly in late August.  After completion of  Phase I–approximately six weeks–the quilt may be displayed in a flat position only, but will not deteriorate any more.  It will be stored in the acid-free box.

Phase II This phase, to be completed sometime in the future, would enable the quilt to be permanently displayed in an upright position.  A stretcher mount will be constructed from finger-joined pinewood and sealed, to be acid-free.  This mount is then covered with muslin and then silk mounting materials that are stretched over the mount.  The quilt is positioned and pinned to the mount and then hand stitched.  This phase will cost $4,050.