While researching in London, I met with the textile conservator Aisling Macken at the Royal Museums. Textile conservation is a highly specialized craft that requires continuous education to stay current in the field. Researching and meeting with other conservators is a way to share experiences and ideas.
Polar Pride Flag in progress.
Collecction storage.
Staying at the forefront of textile conservation means never stopping learning, and one of the best ways to do that is by connecting with fellow conservators. On a recent research trip to London, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with Aisling Macken, textile conservator at Royal Museums Greenwich, to discuss her current projects and tour the museum's collection storage. Conversations like this one directly inform the care I bring to your beloved pieces, ensuring I'm always working with current best practices and expanding my skills.
The Polar Pride Flag
One of the most moving pieces Aisling is currently working on is a pride flag flown for Polar Pride, an annual celebration recognising LGBTQ+ people working in polar science, logistics, heritage, and conservation. Considering the extreme weather conditions this flag endured, it was in remarkable shape. Aisling's approach to its conservation is thoughtful and intentional. Rather than erasing the evidence of its history, she is using techniques that will allow the flag to be safely displayed while preserving its torn edges and the story they tell. That philosophy: conserving an object without stripping away its narrative, is one I deeply adhere to in my own practice.
Arctic Expedition Jacket
Also on Aisling's workbench was a canvas jacket from the Arctic expedition of 1875. On the back of the garment is a beautifully detailed painted lighthouse scene, which is not merely decorative but functional. The image was positioned to help prevent the person walking behind from developing snow blindness. It's a remarkable example of how historical textiles can carry layers of meaning, artistry, and practical ingenuity all at once.
Collection Storage Tour
One of the highlights of my visit was a behind-the-scenes tour of the collection storage. Among the treasures I encountered were examples of sailors' woolwork, a genre of folk art popular among servicemen in the British Navy and Royal Marines from the mid-19th century onward. These hand-embroidered pictures, typically worked in colored wool and occasionally accented with silk or cotton thread on plain-weave cotton or linen, reflect the fact that needlework was considered an essential skill for any naval rating of the time.
The Lucky Pig and the Titanic
Perhaps the most extraordinary items in the storage were the "Lucky Pig" music box and a pair of evening shoes belonging to Edith Rosenbaum (Russell). The story behind them is extraordinary. The musical pig was a gift from Edith's mother, given to her after she was injured in a car accident. She brought it aboard the Titanic, and it may well have saved her life. As Edith herself later recalled, she had no intention of leaving the ship until a sailor snatched the pig from under her arm and tossed it into a lifeboat, knowing she would follow. She did. The delicate silk shoes she was wearing that night made the crossing with her to the lifeboat, bearing quiet witness to one of history's most harrowing evenings.
Seeing these objects in person and understanding the hands that made them, the lives they touched, the stories they carry is exactly why I love this work. A huge thank you to Aisling for her generosity and expertise. Visits like this are what keep my practice sharp and my passion for textile conservation alive.
Garment worn during the Polar exploration.
Maritime woolwork picture with silk.
1906 "Lucky Pig" belonging to Edith Rosenbaum (Russell).
1912 silk shoes worn by Edith Rosenbaum (Russell) during the "Titanic" disaster.
If you have an object you'd like to preserve for future generations, contact Nickole here or send her an email at NickoleSwensen@gmail.com