Lashing Triangle Conservation Treatment

Old Melbourne Gaol’s Lashing Triangle is currently undergoing a comprehensive conservation treatment by International Conservation Services, a key conservation partner of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria).

If you have visited the Gaol, you will undoubtedly have seen the Lashing Triangle as it is on continuous display alongside many of the tools and implements used to inflict punishment on the Gaol’s prisoners.

To begin treatment, the upholstered timber and metal component (the part which the prisoner’s torso would be strapped to) was deinstalled at the Gaol. This object is in many ways macabre and, when carrying out conservation, it’s hard not to let one’s thoughts drift to the function of the Triangle and the pain it must have witnessed during the years it was used.

The upholstered component was packaged safely for transport to the International Conservation Services lab in Burwood and, upon arrival, it was evident the textile cover required freezing to eradicate a cloths moth infestation.

The textile cover was un-laced and removed from the frame, before being wrapped and sealed in plastic ready for freezing. At this early stage, it was clear that a large amount of cleaning would be required to clean-up after the moth infestation as well as considerable stabilisation.

While the textile cover was being freeze-treated, the timber and metal frame was cleaned and examined in detail. Despite having been protected by the textile cover, indentations in the timber surface served as clear evidence of the forceful impact made by the punishing tools, not only on the prisoners.

Once the risk of pests was alleviated, surface cleaning and a full examination could begin. It was clear from existing conservation records that an earlier preservation campaign had seen a new cover of green wool introduced over the top of the original textiles. Over time, this cover had itself deteriorated and it now had an obscuring area of torn fibres and loss to the front. It was therefore agreed, with the National Trust Collection Management Team, this latest intervention should be removed to enable the original textile cover to be seen again. As we worked to separate the layers, it was very fulfilling to reveal the original textile which had been covered up for years.

In all, there were three layers of textile uncovered. The original green wool cover was still present underneath, although severely fragmented. What was thought to be a later addition of brown wool, now revealed itself to be the original backing, still mostly in good condition. Under the green and brown original layers was a thick, natural wool fabric that would have provided some padding for the poor soul strapped to the Triangle. Interestingly, a coin was found lodged between the green and natural wool layers and further examination will hopefully reveal when it might have been placed there.

Each original wool layer was heavily worn along the top edge where weight from the person strapped to the triangle would have pulled on the material and eventually worn the fibres thin. Similar strain was visible over the green wool surface, where two major vertical tears have occurred. In addition to this, many losses have occurred where moths have eaten away the fibres.

When we begin stabilisation, we will place natural wool felt underneath the original textiles for support. A large stabilisation campaign will be required, and this will be done entirely by hand.

Upon returning the upholstered component to the Gaol for reinstallation, we will clean and treat the triangle-shaped timber and metal structure, along with the leather and metal shackles which have endured the damp environment very well. Only small spots of rust have occurred over the years, but we will be sure to treat these before coating the metal in a protective wax to prevent further deterioration over time.

This comprehensive treatment will go a long way to ensuring the Lashing Triangle can be safely displayed at the Gaol for generations to come.

Written by Christina Ritschel, Principal Textile Conservator, and Katie Smith, State Manager (Victoria) of International Conservation Services

‍