Thank you for the point raised. I cannot think of it being rayon as it a 16th c. famous rug published and researched thoroughly. There are some recently re-warped areas but I did not wet those.

Konstantinos Chatziantoniou
Textile and Paper Conservator
Museum of Islamic Art
Al Corniche
Doha
P.O.Box 2777
Qatar
email: [log in to unmask]
Tel: +974 6980254

----------------------------------------
> Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:21:48 -0400
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Reaction of silk woven rug while testing with solvents
> To: [log in to unmask]
> 
> Are you sure the areas you tested are 100% silk.  Rayon sometimes
> responds this way when wetted.  Just a thought...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
> Kathleen Kiefer
> Senior Conservator of Textiles
>  
> Indianapolis Museum of Art
> Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park
> Oldfields-Lilly House & Gardens
> 4000 Michigan Road
> Indianapolis, IN  46208-3326
> [log in to unmask]
> 317-923-1331 x155 - phone
> 317-926-8931 - fax
>  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Textile Conservators [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> Of K Hatziantoniou
> Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 7:49 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Reaction of silk woven rug while testing with solvents
> 
> Dear all,
> 
> I just came across something I have not seen previously and I need your
> opinion:
> Before treating I tested a silk Islamic rug (16th c, very light-weight,
> extremely tight woven) for a possible solvent cleaning with IMS, acetone
> and also a 0,3% of Dehyphon in deionised water. The very soft rug became
> extremely rigid in these tested areas. In two days these areas became
> softer but never returned to their previous state. Unfortunately the rug
> has been purchased in auction and this part of its previous restoration
> treatment remains unknown (no documentation record exists). It must have
> been treated in USA considering its previous owner, in the 60s or 70s.
> After brief consultation the question of fire protection spraying of the
> rug was raised. 
> 
> Does anyone knows why a 100%silk rug may react on all the above solvents
> and washing detergent in such an extreme way?
> 
> Many thank you for your time and help
> 
> Konstantinos Chatziantoniou
> Textile and Paper Conservator
> Museum of Islamic Art
> Al Corniche
> Doha
> P.O.Box 2777
> Qatar
> email: [log in to unmask]
> Tel: +974 6980254
> _________________________________________________________________
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