Tecidos como patrimônio no Brasil: a realidade dos acervos têxteis eclesiásticos protegidos no Estado de Minas Gerais

Abstract

Not only in Minas Gerais but throughout Brazil, we face some difficulties caused by the little historical importance given to the textile heritage. In addition to the scarce number of specialized professionals, there is few research on textile collections in the country, leaving these objects to the margin of any possibility of preservation/conservation/restoration actions. Outside the context of museums, little is known about the profile of the protected Brazilian religious textile heritage (location of these pieces, categories, origin, dating), and practically nothing has been said about these collections. Even with the protection of the preservation organs, we notice that the current situation of these objects is unknown due to the lack of monitoring of their conservation status, it is important to emphasize that neither basic measures of preservation and conservation are designed for them. Betting on an interpretive aspect, we present probable reasons (general and specific) that contributed to the cultural devaluation of fabrics in Brazil, not only discussing how this process took place, but also inserting in this context, fabric ornaments and religious vestments. This discussion being based on the analysis of the place of textiles in the scope of arts and heritage; the historical and socio-cultural relations established with this category of artifact in Brazil; the history of its production in the country; as well as the place of fabrics in the heritage process, considering the context of construction of national identity. In addition, we propose to carry out a mapping of the religious textile collection present in Minas Gerais, just considering some cities that make up the Estrada Real circuit. Since the relevance of such a survey lies in the fact that it allows us to know the profile of these collections (origin, dating, materials, state of conservation, percentages), and not only to evaluate the situation of these pieces in the current context, but also to propose policies that aim safeguarding them.