Korean Porip
Before Treatment
After Treatment
ROYAL ALBERT Memorial museum (uk)
This is a heukrip: a traditional hat worn by Korean men during the Joseon Dynasty. This artefact was a very early acquisition for the museum and there was very little information recorded about it; consequently, this project involved significant research and testing in order to identify it. There are many types of heukrip and, using microscopic analysis and solubility testing on small samples in order to identify the component materials, it was possible to identify this hat more specifically as a porip. Characteristic of the porip, this hat is composed of a woven lattice of fine bamboo strips covered with a layer of bast-fibre textile and coated with blackened fish glue.
At some point in its history, this particular porip suffered significant crushing damage to the crown resulting in breakage and loss of the bamboo structure, tears in the textile layer, and deformation of the crown. In addition, it had accumulated significant surface soiling. The treatment started with surface cleaning using a brush and dental vacuum. This was followed by localised humidification in order to reshape the crown. Initial reshaping was done with an ultrasonic humidifier and manual manipulation, however, the most successful reshaping was done using a weighted balloon to evenly apply pressure against a sandwich composed of a Sympatex barrier layer, damp blotting paper, and a layer of Melinex.
Reshaped but still damaged, the hat was deemed too fragile for interventive structural repair. Instead, a custom mount was designed to permanently support the hat and a custom box was built for long term storage.
During cleaning: the left has already been cleaned, the right has not.
Humidification and reshaping: the balloon applies gentle, even pressure all of the way around the crown of the hat.
The hat on its custom mount, sitting in a custom box designed for long-term storage.