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hsifengFrom: Textile Conservation and Research. A Documentation of the Textile Department on the 20th Anniversary of the Abegg Foundation.
Bern, Schriften der Abbeg-stiftung, 1988
I have had many discussions over the years involving how color fades in tapestries and that the 'Pavia' tapestries pastel tones *may* not accurately show the original shades that were present in the weaving. Like this:
"144 Scene from the front of the Trajan tapestry. The kneeling woman's dress used to be red, but has faded completely and now looks beige. The yellowish-green sleeves of her dress have also lost their original colour through the effects of light."
But when you look at the back...
Bit of a difference!
"145 The same detail of the tapestry, seen from the back, is much more colourful, and even here, the colours are no the original ones. Only the red strip running from the horse's hoof thought the woman's gown has probably retained the original shade of the gown because one of the old tapes covered this strip and prevented light from reaching it. The area immediately to the left which was not covered by tape obviously caught enough light, even on the underside, for the colour to change. This observation proves thatis is virtually impossible for us to imagine how colourful these old tapestries once were. Even their backs, shielded from light, are still not sufficiently protected from its effect, and thus cannot reveal the former colours in all their splendor."
Hubby and I have been doing some work on flags as well - so I thought I would save this little treasure:
"161 Flag of a Swiss regiment in the service of Venice, 17th century (cat 7). White cross with lion of St. Mark on a green ground with irradiating lines and flames. Inscription: VEXILIUM MEUM, JEHOVA. Painting on silk taffeta. New conservation.".
Bern, Schriften der Abbeg-stiftung, 1988
I have had many discussions over the years involving how color fades in tapestries and that the 'Pavia' tapestries pastel tones *may* not accurately show the original shades that were present in the weaving. Like this:
"144 Scene from the front of the Trajan tapestry. The kneeling woman's dress used to be red, but has faded completely and now looks beige. The yellowish-green sleeves of her dress have also lost their original colour through the effects of light."
But when you look at the back...
Bit of a difference!
"145 The same detail of the tapestry, seen from the back, is much more colourful, and even here, the colours are no the original ones. Only the red strip running from the horse's hoof thought the woman's gown has probably retained the original shade of the gown because one of the old tapes covered this strip and prevented light from reaching it. The area immediately to the left which was not covered by tape obviously caught enough light, even on the underside, for the colour to change. This observation proves thatis is virtually impossible for us to imagine how colourful these old tapestries once were. Even their backs, shielded from light, are still not sufficiently protected from its effect, and thus cannot reveal the former colours in all their splendor."
Hubby and I have been doing some work on flags as well - so I thought I would save this little treasure:
"161 Flag of a Swiss regiment in the service of Venice, 17th century (cat 7). White cross with lion of St. Mark on a green ground with irradiating lines and flames. Inscription: VEXILIUM MEUM, JEHOVA. Painting on silk taffeta. New conservation.".
