Dear Karin, I love the current hypothesis about adding a reddish tint to the jute wallcovering fabric for style. But just adding a reference on another aspect of jute processing and aging properties— In the Textile Conservation Center Notes (1979, by Michael Bogle, Conservator, Textile Conservation Center, Merrimack Valley Textile Museum), the Note Number 5 is “Technical Data on Jute, Hemp, Ramie, Sisal, Pineapple, and Coir Fibers”. Regarding jute the publication mentions jute fibers being “ ‘softened’ by adding an oil and water emulsion. This oil content, which can lead to staining problems, is usually in the range of 5 per cent but can range as high as 20 per cent.” There is a further “Special Note on Jute: Oils” that mentions types of oils used and comments on possible effects of oxidation. There is also a bibliography. I attach a PDF of Note Number 5 in case of interest. Since the processing oil would affect the whole cloth, and you have the covered area of a much lighter color, this is likely not the reason…. But looking at your photo I can’t help but think that this is just the sort of reddish-brown color that is often seen with very degraded jute. Best regards, Kathy Francis Francis Textile Conservation LLC Summit, NJ [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Karin von Lerber <[log in to unmask]> To: TEXCONS <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Thu, Jan 31, 2013 12:37 pm Subject: ageing of jute Dear Colleagues, connected to the wallcovering just described, I wonder if any of you might know literature about ageing of jute. The textile concerned has a very peculiar "problem". With the exception of one covered area it has turned reddish. At first glance, I interpreted this as ageing. But as the color is exactly even over all surfaces, disregarding if the textile is in a very dark corridor or next to a brightly lit huge window. Therefore I think, that the color has nothing to do with light. One hypothesys we are following (with analysis for dyes and pigments) is, that the textile was already "new fashion" and was considered too light for the (slightly retarded) Swiss taste. Maybe the walls have therefore be painted / stained with a red color. I would like to balance the dye / pigment analysis with detailed knowledge about aging and changes in jute. Unfortunately I cannot find anything really substantial. Is there some kind of "dark aging" for jute which would lead to a red (and definitely not a yellow/brown) tint? The corridors are not heated, the house is heated moderately. Therefore it would not be extremely dry in winter, not does it seem to be very humid in summer: there are no signs of elevated humidity. The stainig visible on some of the images stem from fire-fighting water in 1990. I also exclude the heat durin this fire (roof), because of the extremely even tint. There are no signs of different thermal areas as would be seen in case of a fire damage. And it is not soot. I am curious, if any of you know more about jute. Sincerely, Karin über 20 Jahre Atelier für Textilkonservierung – 15 Jahre Ideen für Museen Prev art GmbH - Atelier für Textilkonservierung Dipl. Textilkonservatorin-Restauratorin FH / SKR Karin von Lerber CH - 8405 Winterthur // Oberseenerstrasse 93 // Tel. + 41 (0)52 233 12 54 e-mail [log in to unmask] // www.prevart.ch