Palaeoproteomics and microanalysis reveal techniques of production of animal-based metal threads in medieval textiles
Abstract Animal-based metal threads were largely used between the 10th and the fifteenth century, in European, Middle Eastern and Far Eastern textile productions for the decoration of textiles and cloths. They belong to a larger group of metal threads, used either as flat threads or wrapped around a...
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Nature Portfolio
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54480-4 |
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| author | Cristina Scibè Kira Eng-Wilmot Thomas Lam Isetta Tosini Maria José González López Caroline Solazzo |
| author_facet | Cristina Scibè Kira Eng-Wilmot Thomas Lam Isetta Tosini Maria José González López Caroline Solazzo |
| author_sort | Cristina Scibè |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Animal-based metal threads were largely used between the 10th and the fifteenth century, in European, Middle Eastern and Far Eastern textile productions for the decoration of textiles and cloths. They belong to a larger group of metal threads, used either as flat threads or wrapped around a fiber core, that were backed by an organic support (animal or paper). This study focuses on the medieval production of metal threads backed by an animal membrane (e.g. gut membrane), or skin. A total of 91 samples were collected from a corpus of 66 textile fragments belonging to 54 catalogued objects. The relevance and novelty of the present study is represented by the combination of proteomics, cross-section analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM–EDS and SEM-µXRF). The diversity of materials and manufacturing techniques found within each typology of thread, respectively, membrane-based metal threads and skin-based metal threads, hinted at different production technologies. Membrane-based threads were found to be invariably made from cattle gut membrane, coated with gilt-silver leaves. A possible sheep glue adhesive was found in a few samples. Skin-based threads were made from either goat or sheep leather, coated with metal leaves or powder. Within the three different types of coatings identified (silver, gold and gilt-silver), gold coatings were the most represented. Goat leather threads were associated with an egg-white binder, while sturgeon glue was identified as adhesive in all sheep leather threads. Collagen glue from other species (cattle, sheep, horse) was occasionally found in mixed adhesives. In two textiles, the finding of human proteins indicates past contamination due to handling or use. The analytical results show coherence between the fabrication patterns of animal-based metal threads and their probable geographical areas of manufacture, indicating that the study of materials and techniques provide further criteria to classify and group textiles, and trace correlations between manufacturing centers within Eurasian territories. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:05:21Z |
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| id | doaj.art-74df746ec25d4a10b2e667f4862c772c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:05:21Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-74df746ec25d4a10b2e667f4862c772c2024-03-05T18:55:03ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-03-0114112110.1038/s41598-024-54480-4Palaeoproteomics and microanalysis reveal techniques of production of animal-based metal threads in medieval textilesCristina Scibè0Kira Eng-Wilmot1Thomas Lam2Isetta Tosini3Maria José González López4Caroline Solazzo5Programa de Doctorado Arte y Patrimonio, Escuela Internacional de Doctorado (EIDUS), Universidad de SevillaCooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design MuseumMuseum Conservation Institute (MCI), Smithsonian InstitutionScientific Laboratory Opificio delle Pietre Dure (OPD)Departamento de Pintura, Facultad de Bellas Artes, Universidad de SevillaMuseum Conservation Institute (MCI), Smithsonian InstitutionAbstract Animal-based metal threads were largely used between the 10th and the fifteenth century, in European, Middle Eastern and Far Eastern textile productions for the decoration of textiles and cloths. They belong to a larger group of metal threads, used either as flat threads or wrapped around a fiber core, that were backed by an organic support (animal or paper). This study focuses on the medieval production of metal threads backed by an animal membrane (e.g. gut membrane), or skin. A total of 91 samples were collected from a corpus of 66 textile fragments belonging to 54 catalogued objects. The relevance and novelty of the present study is represented by the combination of proteomics, cross-section analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM–EDS and SEM-µXRF). The diversity of materials and manufacturing techniques found within each typology of thread, respectively, membrane-based metal threads and skin-based metal threads, hinted at different production technologies. Membrane-based threads were found to be invariably made from cattle gut membrane, coated with gilt-silver leaves. A possible sheep glue adhesive was found in a few samples. Skin-based threads were made from either goat or sheep leather, coated with metal leaves or powder. Within the three different types of coatings identified (silver, gold and gilt-silver), gold coatings were the most represented. Goat leather threads were associated with an egg-white binder, while sturgeon glue was identified as adhesive in all sheep leather threads. Collagen glue from other species (cattle, sheep, horse) was occasionally found in mixed adhesives. In two textiles, the finding of human proteins indicates past contamination due to handling or use. The analytical results show coherence between the fabrication patterns of animal-based metal threads and their probable geographical areas of manufacture, indicating that the study of materials and techniques provide further criteria to classify and group textiles, and trace correlations between manufacturing centers within Eurasian territories.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54480-4Metal threadsSkinMembraneGoldCollagenEgg white |
| spellingShingle | Cristina Scibè Kira Eng-Wilmot Thomas Lam Isetta Tosini Maria José González López Caroline Solazzo Palaeoproteomics and microanalysis reveal techniques of production of animal-based metal threads in medieval textiles Scientific Reports Metal threads Skin Membrane Gold Collagen Egg white |
| title | Palaeoproteomics and microanalysis reveal techniques of production of animal-based metal threads in medieval textiles |
| title_full | Palaeoproteomics and microanalysis reveal techniques of production of animal-based metal threads in medieval textiles |
| title_fullStr | Palaeoproteomics and microanalysis reveal techniques of production of animal-based metal threads in medieval textiles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Palaeoproteomics and microanalysis reveal techniques of production of animal-based metal threads in medieval textiles |
| title_short | Palaeoproteomics and microanalysis reveal techniques of production of animal-based metal threads in medieval textiles |
| title_sort | palaeoproteomics and microanalysis reveal techniques of production of animal based metal threads in medieval textiles |
| topic | Metal threads Skin Membrane Gold Collagen Egg white |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54480-4 |
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