Organization and Restoration the Qalamkar Fabrics of the Golestan Palace World Collection and Provide Solutions for the Preservation and Restoration of Historical Textiles

The Qajar-era Qalamkar cloths belonging to the Golestan Palace had been folded in wooden boxes in the warehouses for a long time. In alignment with the objective of preventing physical and biological damage to the fabrics, the process of organizing and restoring them was investigated. This was accomplished through library studies and the performance of necessary analyses, which will be explained quantitatively throughout the article. Theactivities carried out to achieve the goals of the mentioned project are as follows: after photographing and documenting the fabrics, a technical and restoration certificate was prepared, and labels made from cotton fabric were sewn onto the cloth. Additionally, cleaning and dusting were performed, and the process of smoothing the folds was conducted to prevent deformation and physical damage at the fold points. Subsequently, the pH level was checked using pH meter strips. Fungal cultivation was carried out on Qalamkar works suspected of having fungi, and fungi cultivation was also performed in both the former and new storage areas. A fiber identification test was conducted to determine the type of fiber present. The results of the analyses indicate that the pH of the fabrics is within the neutral range. The fungal culture analysis revealed that Aspergillus niger grew on one of the fabrics and the door of a wooden box used for storage. Due to the presence of this type of fungus, periodic monitoring was recommended. The fiber identification analysis also confirmed that the fabric is made of cotton cellulose fiber. Finally, the Qalamkar fabrics were covered with cotton fabric and secured. Identification tagswere attached to the works, and with sufficient care and precision, they were transferred to the standard reservoir of Golestan Palace. Furthermore, protection and restoration solutions were provided to maintain the fabrics in the best possible condition.