The consolidation of mud-silk and painted three-dimensional textiles

Abstract

Recent research highlighted the existence and significance of a unique Chinese textile, mud-silk, which has a glossy applied surface finish. A mudsilk jacket donated to the Royal BC Museum had an unusual flaking condition, sparking this investigation into its consolidation, and that of three-dimensional textiles with an applied surface film or paint. The
research aimed to find consolidation treatments that would stabilise the flaking surface film without compromising the flexibility of the textile,
maintaining its visual integrity and historical silhouette. Consolidants tested were isinglass, Aquazol® 200 and funori, with emphasis being placed on the application techniques and solution parameters, namely concentration and
volatility. An aerosol spray technique was developed that, while having limitations, allowed good control of consolidant application. Treatments were tested for their consolidation effectiveness on painted silk specimens, then for their effect on the flexibility of un-used mud-silk dating from the 1950s. Flexibility tests were undertaken using instrumental and sensory methods. Results showed that overall, funori 0.1% affected the flexibility of mud-silk the least, and isinglass 3% the most. There was also found to be a complex relationship among solution properties such as volatility, concentration and viscosity, which impacted textile flexibility, warranting
further research in this area.