Laser cleaning has been around in conservation for roughly 50 years now and is being used by multiple disciplines, more or less regularly. But is it any good for textile conservation? To some who haven’t come into contact with the technique it might feel like a wonder weapon, others might be horrified by the idea of shooting laser beams on fragile textiles.
Nora Brockmann has dedicated her MA to systematically investigating the effects of laser cleaning on silk, both new and artificially aged. The conservation studio she has worked at since graduating has access to laser devices and, having the background knowledge, she has incorporated the technique into the studio’s repertoire.
In this session she will give a brief introduction on what laser cleaning actually is and how it works, present her MA’s findings, and go through some case studies, pros and cons of the application.
