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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