FW: "original" vs "modern" yarns

["Ballard, Mary" <BallardM@xxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Marei Hacke <marei.hacke@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 07-Jun-2007 17:50
Subject: "original" or "modern" stitches
To: TEXCONS@xxxxxxxxxxx

 

Hello,

I have been asked to look at a medieval leather armour with a tear which has been crudely stitched and may be an "original repair". Does anone know a way of telling the approximate age of such a repair (other than dating analysis), i.e. is it possible to differentiate between machine spun and hand spun thread? Assuming, of course, that the fibres or dyes do not turn out to be synthetic which would give the easiest answer.

Thanks,

Marei

 

Marei Hacke

Scientist, The British Museum

Great Russell Street

London, WC1B 3DG

0044/(0)20732388953