ABSTRACT
De Wit Royal Manufacturers was founded in 1889 and has been restoring tapestries for more than a century. Since the author of this chapter became responsible for this laboratory in 1980, techniques have changed completely. New techniques were developed with regard to cleaning (see Chapter 10), conservation, visual integration, lining, hanging and storage of tapestries, in order to meet the new requirements of museums. This laboratory is focused on the treatment of tapestries and work for museums represents 75 per cent of its activities. 75 per cent of its production is exported abroad. The most important recent tapestry conservation programmes in the world have been entrusted to this laboratory (the collection of Canton de Vaud in Switzerland of 102 tapestries and the collection of the Chicago Art Institute of 88 tapestries). The five major tapestry collections in the world, and many others, regularly entrust their most important pieces to this laboratory (Maes, 1989 and 2000). A list of recent work for museums can be seen on the website. 1
