IDENTIFICATION:
Catalog number: CACH 1999
Object: Textile
Material: Cotton
Accession number: CACH-00068
Treatment performed by: Ali Wysopal, conservation intern, under the supervision of Dana Senge, conservator
Exam Date: 05/13/2019
Treatment Report: 07/12/2019
Measurements: (a) L 38, W 34, D 0.01 cm, (b) L 22, W 15, D 0.01 cm, (c) L 24.5 W 7, D 0.01 cm, (d) L 12, W 5.5, D 0.01 cm, (e) L 13, W 3.4, D 0.01 cm, (f) L 8.7, W 3.5, D 0.02 cm
DESCRIPTION:
This catalog represents six small to medium plain weave textile fragments, ranging in color from light beige to dark brown. They are all constructed using single ply, z-twist warp and weft cotton yarn. The warp yarn appears to be twisted tighter and thinner than the weft. There are selvages present on fragments A, B, C and F.
Additional areas of construction or mending can be seen on fragments A, B, and F. Both fragments A and B are composed of several pieces of different colored textiles stitched together using a thinner brown 2s-plied yarn and a wider light beige 2s-plied yarn. Fragment F has two elements sewn together with only the wider light beige 2s-plied yarn. There is a change in the weave pattern from plain to an area of irregularly paired warps and single wefts in Fragment D. Small detached fibers and particles are bagged and stored with these fragments.
Previous repairs noted: Elements of the stitching and change in weaving structure may be part of the original construction or possible previous repairs.
CONDITION:
The textile fragments are creased and misaligned with portions of the frayed yarn now matted. Losses to the warps and wefts can be seen throughout, and woven elements are loose along edges without selvages. Loose dirt and dust can be seen across the surfaces along with differing degrees of discoloration.
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