ABSTRACT
Pressure mounting is a textile conservation technique in which a textile is physically stabilized by sandwiching it between a glazing and padded rigid board. Pressure mounting of this kind has been practised by textile conservators over half a century, but there is still limited information on the microenvironment within the mount. This study aimed to adapt existing theories of the microenvironment in other conservation fields, and to understand the internal environmental condition within the mounts in relation to the constituent materials and external temperature and relative humidity (RH) conditions. Five experiments were conducted, using a range of pressure mount samples constructed using a variety of both hygroscopic and hydrophobic materials and, in some cases, mock-up objects made of wool fabric. Humidity indicator cards were used to record the effects of controlled or uncontrolled environmental conditions within the mounts. The study clarified that the internal RH fluctuation pattern in relation to the external temperature and RH gradients can vary, depending on the hygroscopic or hydrophobic nature of the contained materials.
