Painting on silk

Trevor Burrowes <trevoroc [at] pacbell__net> writes

>An early 20th(?) century Indian painting on silk (43cm x 58cm) has
>been damaged by acid-based cardboard backing. Moisture on the
>cardboard backing (most likely) caused spots (2 areas, 2mm each,
>and other tiny spots) on the silk. Within the stained areas, there
>are two small holes (about 1 cm, each).
>
>Can anyone recommend ways to (a) remove discoloring caused
>by the backing, and (b) ways to "mend" the small holes?

It is difficult to give instructions, particularly if this is not
made with traditional methods and materials.  It sounds like the
backing should be taken off, and then compensation for the holes can
partly be done using the color of a new better backing.  Because of
the small size of the discoloration and damage, it would seem that
local inpainting would tackle the problem more easily than stain
removal. Is it possible that the stains and damages are due to fly
specks rather than foxing?

B. Appelbaum


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 13:45
                 Distributed: Friday, February 25, 2000
                       Message Id: cdl-13-45-011
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