IDENTIFICATION:
Catalog number: CACH 18260
Object: Textile
Material: Cotton
Accession number: CACH-00068
Treatment performed by: Ali Wysopal, conservation technician, under the supervision of Dana Senge, conservator
Exam Date: 05/13/2019
Treatment Report: 07/12/2019
Measurements: L 27, W 11, D 0.01 cm
DESCRIPTION:
This is a fragment of a plain weave textile constructed using single ply, z-twist warp and weft cotton yarn. The object is light brown, with some variation in color throughout. There are two main elements connected by several strands of unwoven yarn. The smaller component consists of two layers stitched together using 2s-plied brown yarn.
CONDITION:
The textile is creased and misaligned with portions of the frayed yarn now matted. Losses to the warps and wefts can be seen throughout the fragment, and woven elements are loose along edges without selvages. Loose dirt and dust can be seen across the surface.
Treatment Procedure:
1. Reduced loose dirt and dust from textile by vacuuming with a variable suction vacuum through a nylon screen. Larger debris was mechanically removed with tweezers.
2. Further reduced remaining soiling by tamping with a vulcanized soot sponge, followed by vacuuming.
3. Humidified textiles in packages between Reemay, Gore-tex, dampened blotters, and Mylar, then untangled and properly aligned loose woven elements. Textile was weighted between dry blotters during drying to hold loose fibers in place and improve the alignment.
4. Created a new window mat storage mount with muslin lined backing board.
5. Attached a photo of the fragment to the back of the muslin mount.
Date of completion of treatment: 07/12/2019