Applying Preventive Conservation Recommendations for Silk in Historic Houses

Accelerated ageing experiments have been used to identify the critical deterioration factors for silk. These have shown the role of humidity to be more important than previously thought. Monitoring of environmental conditions behind tapestries has identified the formation of high humidity microclimates. High humidity levels may be the reason for the poor condition of sampled unfaded silks. The accelerated ageing results have been used to make preventive conservation recommendations and plot preliminary isoperms for silk deterioration. The use of these tools to improve display environments within mixed collections in historic houses is discussed.