It may look like a mad science experiment, but the humidity chamber shown on the left is actually a very gentle way to rehydrate a parched garment! When this 1870s wrapper came out of Pratt House, we noticed that the fibers seemed more stiff and brittle than they should be. Through the use of this humidity chamber, we were able to slowly introduce moisture back into the fibers to restore its natural elasticity and hue. See the finished product on the right! 1977.65.1 Gift of Mrs. Edna Crawford #mdhs #1870s #1870sfashion #1870sdress #19thcentury #19thcenturyfashion #paisley #morningwrapper #conservation #textileconservation #humiditychamber