Sjoukje Telleman is a textile conservator. After completing a Master’s in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (Textiles) at the University of Amsterdam, she continued in the program’s post-master track from 2015 to 2017. During those two years, she gained experience at institutions such as the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the KIK-IRPA research institute in Brussels.

In 2017, she founded her own company, Telleman Textile Restauratie, and has since worked on a wide variety of objects and projects, from unique items like textiles recovered from the ocean or ancient mummies to christening gowns, religious textiles, and modern art. Her clients include the National Museum of Antiquities (RMO), the Netherlands Open Air Museum, the Cultural Heritage Agency, Municipality of Rhenen, Regional Archive Rivierenland, and many private clients with cherished family heirlooms.

Textiles are a versatile material, produced in many forms throughout the centuries, always closely tied to human life. Textile objects, whether fashion, costumes, ecclesiastical textiles, accessories, needlework, flags, banners, carpets, interior fabrics, or even mummies and archaeological fragments, tell stories of cultures, communities, and individuals.

Textiles encompass a broad range of materials, techniques, and crafts, but they are also fragile, vulnerable to aging, deterioration, and wear. This can result in visible or hidden damage such as tears, creases, material loss, deformation, or overall weakening of the fabric.

It is the role of a textile conservator to preserve these objects for the future, prevent further damage, and improve their appearance. Many different techniques are used, and every object presents unique challenges. Through a selection of case studies, this talk offers a behind-the-scenes look at the work of a textile conservator.

Practical Information

• The talk will be held in Dutch
• Free tickets for the lecture can be reserved starting September 1