The Restoration of Cultural Properties
East-Asian cultural properties are often made of fragile materials like wood, paper or silk. As such, they are prone to damage from light, heat and changes of temperature. At the Tokyo National Museum, we carefully control the heat, humidity, light, and the amount of harmful chemicals in the air to create optimal conditions for the preservation of these cultural properties, thus ensuring any wear and tear is minimized. However, restoration work is necessary if an object has suffered particular damage through the passing of time.
The silk ground of the Korin Kimono is covered with snapped threads. Also noticeable are several threads that were reinforced during the last restoration. All this impedes the appreciation of the garment.
The white lining has been sewn up in a ragged manner using plain stitch.
The ground is damaged from the collar to the shoulder area.
The restoration project will take place over a period of two years from 2020. It will begin with the disassembly of the outer fabric, followed by the removal of the previous restoration, reinforcement and repair work, and the application of a new lining. It will then be returned to the Tokyo National Museum.