Artwork © Andre Lanoux 2015. Commissioned by Edward Maeder.

Karen Finch (OBE, D.Litt, FIIC, FRSA) was a leading advocate for textile conservation worldwide, transforming the profession through her teaching, workroom practice and writing. She founded the Textile Conservation Centre which became a leading institute for education and research, where pioneering advances were made in the remedial conservation of tapestries, painted silk banners, upholstered furniture and archaeological textiles.

Karen’s aim that conservation should preserve historical information led to a strong emphasis on technical documentation and preventative care. She believed in a collaborative approach bringing together conservators, curators and scientists in the understanding of textiles as historical documents.

Karen’s textile pursuits were broad; her personal engagement with textiles started with design and weaving, leading on to a profound interest in historical techniques and the meaning of textiles in daily life.

Latest blog posts
Click here to see all blog posts

Karen's centenary
Karen Finch’s centenary, 8th May 2021
Posted by Katrina Finch
on April 6th, 2021
Madeleine Ginsburg 1928–2020
A tribute to Madeleine Ginsburg
Posted by Philip Sykas
on July 29th, 2020
Madeleine Ginsburg 1928–2020
Madeleine Ginsburg, 22 September 1928 – 14 July 2020
Posted by Katrina Finch
on July 29th, 2020
Second anniversary of Karen's death
Karen’s room
Posted by Alan Cohen
on April 15th, 2020
3 comments

Latest features

Tribute
Tribute to Karen Finch from Philip Sykas
By Philip Sykas
First published November, 2018 in Textile History
1 comments
Article/Paper
The history and the techniques of the spinning of gold thread
Translation by Karen Finch from the original by Sofus Larsen
1998
Conservation Project
The United Nations curtain restoration

In the summer of 1968 Karen organised a team of conservationists who restored a pair of woven curtains owned by the United Nations, while staying with Soli and Eva-Louise Svensson in Sweden
Article/Paper
Report on the Reference Collection of the Textile Conservation Centre
By Karen Finch
December, 1987

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Recent comments

  • I am reading letters that my mother Kristine Andersen, nee Kaae, kept and translating them into English. One is from her cousin Andrea Thomsen sent from Skive Sanatoriet dated August 11, 1919. They were very close and lived in Tvede near Randers. Andrea died of TB perhaps in 1922 or earlier. I was glad to see the photo of the sanatorium. It’s amazing what one fines on the Internet when I searched for Skive Sanatorium. Best wishes. Kenneth K. Andersen on 1947–1959: Learning her trade March 2nd, 2021 ● 3:29pm
  • Hallo Lisbeth – thank you for your comments Lisbeth – so appreciated. I expect you have since found out that you don’t need to register to simply view the website – only if you want to make a comment. Katrina Katrina Finch on Karen’s room August 7th, 2020 ● 3:12pm
  • How delightful to read your description of Karen’s room and some of her story, Alan. Can vividly picture Karen and Katrina sitting watching soap operas. It is the first time I enter these sacred grounds. Hope to do it again. Seems I need to register? Lisbeth Mørup on Karen’s room August 4th, 2020 ● 11:11pm
  • Thank you Alan for summing up the course of Søster´s moving to Walthamstow! Are you going to the allotment today! To Epping forest? 8th of May 2020 Ruth Sinding on Karen’s room May 8th, 2020 ● 6:15am
  • Absolutely fantastik !!!!!!!! Marie in Sweden Marie Ivarsson Norell on Tribute to Karen Finch from Philip Sykas June 13th, 2019 ● 9:45am