Conservation in progress: Bringing the 'Circumcision of Isaac' tapestry back to life
Date: 17 January 2025
Author: Alice Young
It’s been nearly five months since conservation work started on Henry VIII's 'Abraham' tapestries, starting with the Circumcision of Isaac. And what a few months it's been! These tapestries are amongst the most important and earliest examples in the Royal Collection.
Here, textile conservator Alice Young explains the specialist techniques we use to ensure the continued survival of these fascinating artworks.
Measuring five metres by eight, the Circumcision of Isaac tapestry is majestic in scale and material composition. Over the course of the ‘Abraham’ tapestries’ 500-year history, they have played a pivotal role in historic state occasions such as coronations and state visits. Wool, silk, and metal threads create a powerful image, and the weavers’ technical skills still inspire awe today.
Image: In 2024 we began the important and lengthy process of assessing Circumcision of Isaac’s condition. © Historic Royal Palaces / Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust
Image: Measuring five metres by eight, The Circumcision of Isaac is majestic in scale and material composition. © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust
A heavy undertaking...
In my last post, I explained how in 2013 Circumcision of Isaac was taken down from the Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace and cleaned in our bespoke tapestry wet-cleaning facility. It was kept in storage at some points in the intervening years, so in 2024 we began the important and lengthy process of assessing its condition on behalf of Royal Collection Trust. This was vital for drawing up a time estimate and planning the project. This tapestry is one of the heaviest tapestries in the collection, so even relatively simple tasks such as moving it into the studio require military planning, not to mention many hands to help!
Understanding tapestry construction
To conserve a tapestry, it’s important to go back to the very beginning of its history and understand how these amazing objects were constructed. We conserve tapestries sideways, which is also how the original weavers would have worked – a fact that always surprises visitors to our workroom!
Tapestries are weft faced textiles: two types of thread – the warp and the weft – are woven together to create the image. The original warp thread used for the Abraham tapestries is made of wool and runs horizontally, providing the tapestry’s structure when it is hanging. The weft – made of gold and silver threads running vertically through the image – is then woven through the warp to create the glittering final effect.
Over time, the vertical weft threads begin to open, and areas of fragility develop as the weave structure begins to break down. Our condition assessment of Circumcision of Isaac showed that areas of fragility had developed along its top border. So the next step was to transfer it onto a specially designed loom to start the process of stabilising it, and ensure that it can be displayed safely for many years to come.
The process of stabilising the tapestry
Transferring Circumcision of Isaac onto the loom
The 500-year-old tapestry is gradually rolled onto metal rollers which can be carefully adjusted with wheels. Our practices are constantly developing, and we are always on the lookout for new equipment we can use to ensure our measuring is accurate. For this project, a laser measuring device has joined our arsenal of more traditional measuring tapes and set squares, to help ensure the tapestry is straight on the loom.
Adding linen support
To stabilise the tapestry, we need to support it with a linen support fabric on its reverse. Linen is a perfect natural material to use, as it responds well to an open display environment. The linen we use is unbleached and finely woven – specifically sourced to meet our exacting standards.
We scour it three times and realign the fibres, before rolling it onto the central roller of our loom with the tapestry.
Image: Alice uses a laser measuring device to ensure the tapestry is straight on the loom. © Historic Royal Palaces / Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust
Image: The 500-year-old tapestry is gradually rolled onto metal rollers which can be carefully adjusted with wheels. © Historic Royal Palaces / Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust
Image: Circumcision of Isaac on the loom in the tapestry workroom at Hampton Court Palace. © Historic Royal Palaces / Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust
Stitch by stitch: The long process of 'turns'
Once the linen is ready, we then gradually stitch it to the back of the tapestry in 15-centimetre intervals called ‘turns’. In total I estimate that we’ll need to complete 55 turns for Circumcision of Isaac – a job that will take about three years.
We use a combination of natural and synthetic threads to carry out our stitching. All these threads are dyed in the studio by our highly skilled conservation technician, using conservation grade dyes. Wool, silk and polyester are blended to create bespoke colours that closely resemble the colours now visible on the tapestry.
Each 15-centimetre turn has its own unique challenges: broken warps will be strengthened with new wool warp thread. A conservation stitch called ‘couching’ will be used in areas where the weft is weak and lost.
Once the loom work is completed, we’ll need to thoroughly check all the conservation stitching to make sure all areas of fragility have been supported. Even though we work in small sections, we need to evenly distribute the linen.
Circumcision of Isaac's next chapter
The final stage for Circumcision of Isaac’s conservation will be the addition of a cotton cambric lining. Every day is different in the tapestry conservation workroom and, as I gradually progress with the tapestry’s conservation, the material beauty of the Abraham tapestries is never very far from my mind. The next few years will enhance our understanding of these magnificent Royal Collection tapestries and safeguard the story of Abraham for future generations.
Alice Young
Textile Conservator, Historic Royal Palaces
More from our blog
The History of the Abraham Tapestries at Hampton Court
15 November 2024
Tudor tapestries were the epitome of cultural sophistication and a symbol of the lucky owner’s accomplishments and values: highly coloured, glittering expositions of magnificence and success. Here, Curator Brett Dolman explores how the 'Abraham' tapestries came to be at Hampton Court, and their meaning to those who gazed upon them in the 16th century.
Conserving Henry VIII's Abraham Tapestries
18 October 2024
Textile Treatment Conservator Alice Young introduces a new major project at Historic Royal Palaces, to keep the Abraham tapestries looking their best for future generations.
The Weird and Wonderful Medicines of Henry VIII
12 January 2023
Henry VIII is one of England’s most famous monarchs, but lesser known are his numerous medical problems and the often-extraordinary remedies which he used to treat them.