How conservators prepare ancient Chinese silk for display at the British Museum
In short: Conservators Hannah and Monique select and ready a new backing fabric for a rare Tang dynasty embroidery. This video offers a behind-the-scenes look at the meticulous preservation process required to stabilize a fragile textile depicting the Buddha at Vulture Peak.
The Vulture Peak embroidery dates back to China's Tang dynasty, spanning AD 618 to 907. It illustrates a significant scene in Buddhist tradition: the Buddha preaching at his favored retreat, Vulture Peak, which is situated in modern-day north-east India.
The artifact was recovered by archaeologist Sir Aurel Stein, who lived from 1862 to 1943. Stein discovered the piece within a hidden, walled-up cave in Dunhuang, which contained a vast library of manuscripts, paintings, and textiles. The embroidery is now part of the British Museum collection, donated by Stein himself.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Conserving Vulture Peak | Episode 6: Backing fabric
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