Jamie:
I am not sure if this is relevant to nitrocellulose primed canvas, but the
following excerpt from Roberts, M.T. and D. Etherington. 1982. Bookbinding
and the Conservation of Books. A Dictionary of Descriptive Terminology.
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. describes pyroxylin treated fabric
for bookcloth which were introduced in 1910.
http://cool.conservation-us.org/don/dt/dt0414.html
Pyroxylin treated fabrics, which were introduced in about 1910, represented
a major breakthrough in book cloth. The term "pyroxylin treated," as
applied to book cloths, means either pyroxylin coated or pyroxylin
impregnated cotton fabrics. The difference between the two is the quantity
of protective coating applied and the manner of application, as well as the
type of material treated. The pyroxylin composition consists of gelatinized
nitrocellulose, a plasticizer to impart softness and flexibility, coloring
matter, and a solvent. The fabrics used for impregnation are lightweight
muslins, while those used for coating are heavier drills, twills, and
sheeting. Coated fabrics are sometimes embossed in imitation of leather.
The surface of impregnated fabrics retain the texture of the base
materials. Pyroxylin impregnated fabrics are superior to starch-filled
fabrics because their surfaces are more water resistant, they are more
resistant to insects and fungi, and are generally stronger. They wear well
and are particularly suitable for use in library binding. Pyroxylin coated
fabrics are used extensively in edition binding because of the decorative
effects obtainable. They, too, are water repellant and immune to insect
attack and fungi, but they do not wear as well as impregnated cloths
because of cracking at the joints and occasional peeling of the coating.
Scott
R. Scott Williams
Senior Conservation Scientist (Chemist)
Conservation Research Division
Canadian Conservation Institute
1030 Innes Road
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0M5
tel: (613) 998-3721
fax: (613) 998-4721
email: [log in to unmask]
Visit the CCI Web sites at www.cci-icc.gc.ca and www.preservation.gc.ca
"James S. Martin"
<james.s.martin@A
TT.NET> To
Sent by: Textile [log in to unmask]
Conservators cc
<TEXCONS@SI-LISTS
ERV.SI.EDU> Subject
Source/period of cotton canvas with
nitrocelluose size and oil primer
2010-02-09 09:52
AM
Please respond to
Textile
Conservators
<TEXCONS@SI-LISTS
ERV.SI.EDU>
Dear All,
I am seeking leads to the source and period of introduction/use of a
pre-primed canvas:
-- the canvas consists of cotton, woven in a pattern of 8 double threads
and 10-11 single threads per square centimeter.
-- the canvas is sized with a nitrocellulose coating pigmented with calcite
and barium sulfate.
-- the single white oil primer consists of kaolin, gypsum, and titanium
dioxide.
The canvas is purported to date to the late 1940s or 1950s, and likely was
purchased in the United States.
All the best,
Jamie
James Martin
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