A 19th century red wool undergraduate gown from The Hunterian collection was in the media spotlight recently.

The gown, worn by a former student of the University of Glasgow, is a very rare example of an everyday student garment from this period. To make it safe for display, it has been painstakingly restored by students at the University’s Centre for Textile Conservation and Technical Art History.

Reporters from BBC Scotland visited the Centre on several occasions to film the second-year MPhil Textile Conservation students at work.

A Nigerian Dance Sash from The Hunterian collection also featured in the news report which was broadcast on BBC1 Scotland’s Reporting Scotland. The Sash has also been expertly cleaned and repaired by students at the Centre.

The Centre is also working on a number of other items from The Hunterian collection including a Maori Cloak and Lord Lister's court suit. The collaboration between The Hunterian and the Centre for Textile Conservation and Technical Art History is mutually beneficial as The Hunterian has items from its world class collections conserved and students gain access to real museum items for their training and portfolios.

First published: 24 May 2012

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