Take a peek into preparations for the reopening of the South Asian Galleries, December 2023.

Here, the textile conservator is using a heated spatula to ease out creases and make sure the support fabric is making even contact with the object after the handling and movement of installation. A heated spatula is a little like your iron for pressing clothes at home, except the conservator controls the temperature from an attached control unit and the part that makes contact with an object--the “spatula”—is smooth and polished to help make it safer for contact with objects.

The palampore is the first object to be installed in a new, giant wall case that will feature textiles and rugs from the museum’s collection in the reinstalled gallery. Look for it in December!

Palampore, 1700-1750, India, cotton hand-painted and resist-dyed, 114 ¼” x 84 ½”, Museum Purchase: Carl and Alice Bimel Endowment for South Asian Art, 2019.188