About the Textile Project
For two years, from 2004-2006, the Museum undertook a major project centred on its world costume and textile collections, addressing the Museum's aims of research, preservation and increased access. During the project, staff catalogued, re-packed and photographed more than four thousand artefacts. Drawing on this work, enhanced documentation about individual textiles is available via the Museum's on-line catalogue. More detailed information about specific collections as well as selected images are displayed on this website.
For certain areas of the collections detailed research was undertaken. A series of small displays was mounted, highlighting Pacific barkcloth, kente cloth from Ghana, ancient textiles from Peru, and Arctic clothing. Additional research was also conducted on Tibetan thangkas (religious paintings) and Cypriot costume. Connections between the Museum's artefact collections, photographic collections and documentary archives were explored.
The displays provided a focus for public events, including the Big Draw, National Archaeology Week and the University of Cambridge Science Festival. The events provided opportunities for the Museum to collaborate with artists and with special interest groups such as the Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers and the Young Archaeologists Club. The project provided the impetus for the foundation of an anthropology educational handling collection, a textile loan box and a 'touch table' in the anthropology gallery.
Volunteers formed an essential part of the project, assisting with all areas of work from collections management, conservation and documentation to the handling collection, loan box and special events. Postgraduate and undergraduate students from Cambridge and other universities, school pupils, artists and members of staff all contributed to make the project a success.
For certain areas of the collections detailed research was undertaken. A series of small displays was mounted, highlighting Pacific barkcloth, kente cloth from Ghana, ancient textiles from Peru, and Arctic clothing. Additional research was also conducted on Tibetan thangkas (religious paintings) and Cypriot costume. Connections between the Museum's artefact collections, photographic collections and documentary archives were explored.
The displays provided a focus for public events, including the Big Draw, National Archaeology Week and the University of Cambridge Science Festival. The events provided opportunities for the Museum to collaborate with artists and with special interest groups such as the Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers and the Young Archaeologists Club. The project provided the impetus for the foundation of an anthropology educational handling collection, a textile loan box and a 'touch table' in the anthropology gallery.
Volunteers formed an essential part of the project, assisting with all areas of work from collections management, conservation and documentation to the handling collection, loan box and special events. Postgraduate and undergraduate students from Cambridge and other universities, school pupils, artists and members of staff all contributed to make the project a success.
