Conserving Vulture Peak | Episode 1: Introduction

Join textile conservators Monique Pullan and Hannah Vickers as they embark on this intricate conservation journey over the course of 11 weeks.
This embroidery dates from China’s Tang dynasty (AD 618-907). It depicts the Buddha preaching at Vulture Peak - in Buddhist tradition a favourite retreat of the Buddha and his disciples, located in what is now north-east India.
The tapestry is part of a collection donated to the British Museum by the archaeologist Sir Aurel Stein (1862-1943).
You can find more information in the collection online here: www.britishmuseum.org/research...

[@novicepilotaviator5868]

You two extraordinary ladies are both doing an incredible job. Most grateful, and thank you to you both

[@Spiegelgeist]

This is wonderful, keep up these restoration videos, they're fascinating!

[@UnknownGunslinger]

This is fantastic, my only little nitpick is that the music and voice over are at wildly different levels. Music is too loud, and voice over is too low.

[@aeviwright7846]

I kept having to turn the volume up and down to watch the video pausing each time the music would start at tinnitus inducing levels compared to the volume required to hear the speakers have to abandon ship at 1:34 because I don't have a clue what has been said so far as it feels every few seconds the music will start back up which aint great on my smithin ears.

[@feywerfolevado6286]

What is the song though? I like it p:

[@lisakilmer2667]

This series is really informative and enjoyable. I am grateful that you included so much detail that is of interest to textile aficionados, and did not worry about trying to "jazz up" the information. It is of great interest to see the combination of traditional textile work and high-tech scientific investigation. It's lovely to see the clever use of netting to press the degraded fibers against a backing without having to stitch through them, and to be shown that a scaffold was built to allow the conservators to work above the piece. It is nice to see the detail of "how did they DO that." Please consider adding to the series when you determine what the writing/stamp is, and if you are able to determine the missing pigments. It would also be nice to, someday, see a digital recreation of the original coloring. (And yes, the background music is a little louder than needed.)

[@someshnswamy5335]

Interesting episodes in textile conservation line... thank you so much Hannah & Monique...wonderful job & more valuable informations.

[@STOG01]

The transitions from their speech and the music is rather unbalanced in terms of volume. Had to raise the volume first - then quickly lower it ^^

[@ingeborg-anne]

YAY a new conservation series! I'm so excited!

[@NeonsStyleHD]

Such a shame so much was lost. I will never get to see the British Museum and would love to see videos showing and explaining your exhibits.

[@harxmoond]

I really liked this I hope you can show more of their process and its eventual move to Japan.

[@janecarleton8013]

wonderful artifact and fascinating work - do watch all 11 espisodes

[@zedwms]

A lovely piece, and I will watch the whole series, but wow, missed the mark on this point, British Museum: This is presentation about a Chinese embroidery, of an Indian figure, and it's being tracked with Middle Eastern music. One would think it an obvious point for a world-renown museum to use ethnically and historically appropriate Chinese music in such a presentation. Even Indian music would be better, since that is from whence the Buddha hails--but Middle Eastern music? Those folks aren't even into the Buddha. (Love you British Museum)

[@jenniferschmitzer299]

spose you never heard of the silk road and how it connects to the 'asian' lands off side to that big pond called the mediterranean. The audio editor probably also had no idea

[@rafalemiec8683]

Wait, they're just allowed to breathe all over the embroidery? It's immune to bacteria, humidity, etc?

[@Carl17H]

They studied conservation and so they probably know what and how to behave.

[@hedgetwentyfour2708]

The figures that are worn off look like guards of the Buddha, at least the one on the observer's right does -the other one really is too far gone to tell with much certainty.

[@jonrutherford6852]

Another excellent documentary ruined by intrusive music. I long for documentaries with NO music....

[@psblad2667]

Please! Remove that music!!! At least adjust the levels!!

[@thevetianeria]

The Indian-style music for a Chinese textile is glaringly inappropriate, as well as too loud.

[@danielh.9986]

i came here cuz of reddit. OMG this is boring af...