Our workshop for textile restoration was opened in 1989,

right after Sr. Klara completed her training at the Bavarian Landesamt für Denkmalpflege (State Office for the Care of National Heritage) in Bamberg. The task of such a workshop is to preserve, care for, restore and research (using modern technology) textile art and artefacts.

Lion cloth, relic casing from the Heribert shrine, Cologne- Deutz

Constantinople, between 976 and 1025

The cloth was backed with silk dyed to match and secured with overstitching.

Hence the great variety of textile objects which have been passed down through the ages and which need to be preserved. In our workshop the main focus is on liturgical textiles, the ecclesiastical ornaments and vestments of the Catholic church, but also of Judaism, plus banners and tapestries.
Most of our working hours are spent restoring individual items, with quite a large amount of time being devoted to giving advice on the proper storage and inventorying of ecclesiastical ornaments and vestments.

Cope, Cologne, Diocesan Museum

Design Peter Hecker, made by the
Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus,
Simpelveld, 1922.

A suitable display model was made for the exhibition.

When the object is first viewed thought is given to how it may be presented in future, or properly stored, or - something which occasionally happens in the case of ecclesiastical vestments - whether it can be worn on occasion. Once these facts are known, a restoration plan can be developed.

Contact:
Sr. Klara Antons
Tel. 0221/ 937067-37
e-mail: textilrestaurierung@benediktinerinnen-koeln.de