De Wit Manufacture's Innovative Restoration of 18th-Century Tapestries in Lille

The Royal Manufacture De Wit in Mechelen, Belgium, has been restoring the world's finest tapestries for over 130 years. Its clients include the Louvre, the Mobilier National, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, as well as pieces from the United States. The workshop employs ten people and uses a unique, patented suction table (5 x 9 meters) developed in 1992, which allows for optimal cleaning of large tapestries without the damage caused by traditional water baths. This technique was recently applied to eleven tapestries from the Hospice Comtesse in Lille, woven in 1703 after models by painter Arnould de Vuez and produced by the manufacture of Guillaume Werniers, later run by his widow Catherine Ghuys. The restoration involved meticulous cleaning, reinforcement with linen patches sewn invisibly, and reintegration of missing details with matching threads. The tapestries are now on display in the exhibition "Trésors de laine et de soie" at the Musée de l'Hospice Comtesse until October 11. The restoration ensures the works' readability and longevity, with all seams staggered to distribute tension and a linen backing for support and dust protection.