Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust secured funding of £10,000 to help conserve the stunning 17th Century Tapestry, ‘The Judgement of Paris’, from the Cannon Hall collection.
The 17th Century Tapestry illustrates a story from Greek Mythology, and the artwork itself was one of the first commodities to be accessioned into the museum’s collection in the 1950s.
It was generously donated by Ernest Edward Cook, who is the grandson of the travel agent Thomas Cook, who had left his collection to the Art Fund to allocate, after which it was issued to the Cannon Hall Museum.
The visitors who visit the museum on a regular basis are already aware of the artwork and how it has been on display for so many years in the Cannon Hall Museum Ballroom. It is also known that the item is an ideal fit and that it looks perfectly styled there.
The aim is to use the £10,000 towards the £25,000 cost of conservation via an Aim Remedial Conservation Grant generously supported by the Pilgrim Trust as well.
The conservation will include everything from cleaning and repairing holes to restoring missing, faded or damaged stitching areas. The museum urges the public to help conserve the meaningful tapestry and is trying to get as many funds as possible.
Councillor Robert Frost, the Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “Barnsley Museum’s collections are outstanding and reflect the rich and fascinating history of our borough. It’s important that they are preserved and protected for future generations to enjoy.”
“Barnsley Museums Heritage Trust work hard to raise funds for restorations such as this, and people can show their support through donations, no matter how big or small. We are confident we will raise enough money to repair this extraordinary piece of history and bring the tapestry back to life.”
The museum calls on the public to help them with funding and restoring the 17th Century Tapestry, and if you would like to help fund the tapestry conservation, text TAPESTRY followed by the amount you wish to donate to 70085 or via the DONATE button at www.bmht.org.
