Long term preservation of the auto-icon Jeremy Bentham

Description

The auto-icon of Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) is clothed in one of his own outfits which includes a black wool coat, wool trousers, linen shirt, braces, waistcoat, socks and wool slippers.

Client Brief

Condition assessment of the clothing and accessories, in preparation for future exhibitions and continued long term display; undertake conservation treatment where necessary.

Condition assessment

Periodic condition assessment of the clothing and accessories demonstrates best preventive conservation practice. Occasionally this involves temporary removal of the clothing.

Further information

Gill, K. (2006) 'The care and storage of textile collections to meet the needs of conservation, research and the public.' In, Toledo de Paula, T.C. (ed.) Tecidos a sua conservacao no Brasil: museus e collecoes [Textile conservation in Brazil: museums and collections]. Sao Paulo, Brazil, Museu Paulista of USP, 297-301.

The Auto Icon Jeremy Bentham is on display in a wood cabinet at the end of the south cloister of the main building of University College of London.

[TCC 0384]

Acknowledgements

Reproduced courtesy of University College London and the Textile Conservation Centre, University of Southampton. Textile Conservation Centre, University of Southampton © 2009.

Kate Gill Project manager and principal conservator

Most recently examined 2005