Conservation and Restoration of a Rare Historical Crochet Table cloth Embroidered with Metal Threads

Textiles represent one of the most important elements in the study of art history and ancient civilizations, as they embody the social, economic, and cultural development of different periods. These artifacts act as tangible evidence of the weaving and embroidery techniques, the materials employed, and the craftsmanship that characterized various historical eras.This research presents the examination, analysis, and conservation of a historical crochet table cover embroidered with metallic threads, housed at the Beit El-Umma Museum. The artifact’s condition was thoroughly documented through detailed visual observation, high-resolution photography, and a comprehensive condition and damage mapping process using AutoCAD. Analytical techniques, including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), were employed to accurately identify the fiber and metal compositions and to investigate the deterioration mechanisms affecting the object. The conservation approach involved both mechanical and chemical cleaning, reinforcement of structurally weakened areas with silk crepeline, and mounting on a custom-designed support using specialized conservation stitching methods. This study proposes a reproducible conservation methodology for composite textiles combining organic fibers and metallic elements, adhering to international conservation ethics of minimal intervention, reversibility, and preventive care. The results contribute to the long-term preservation, study, and presentation of complex historic textiles within museum collections.