ABSTRACT
The conservation studio at the People’s History Museum (PHM) in Manchester specializes in the treatment of trade union and political banners which form a large part of the collection. Trade union banners are large and challenging objects to work with, and the painted silk is often in poor condition. The varied post-conservation life experienced by the banners that enter and leave the studio, as well as the large collection of banners held at the museum, give an unusual perspective on the lifetimes of conservation treatments. This case study examines the treatment of three banners which have entered the studio in the last ten years because previous conservation treatments have failed. One is now part of the PHM collection, one in another museum collection and one still in active use. The projects are summarized and the way that these failures guided subsequent treatments is described. The effects of future banner use and the culture surrounding trade union banners on their deterioration and on conservation decision making are also discussed.
