ABSTRACT
A textile can be defined simply as ‘a woven structure produced by the interlacing of two sets of threads’ but, interpreted in its broadest sense, and within the museum context, the term ‘textiles’ embraces three categories of objects:
‘flat’ items which can be either hung, laid, or rolled, such as tapestries, carpets, church and domestic furnishings, banners, fabric samples, shawls, embroideries, lace, etc.;
‘shaped’ items, usually costumes and costume accessories, which require three-dimensional support’; and
miscellaneous items, including screens, fans, caskets, seat and bed furniture, dolls, soft toys, etc.
