Pacific Barkcloth Under the Microscope – Characterisation of Condition, Decoration and Structure
The creation of barkcloth begins with harvesting the inner bark of certain types of trees followed by soaking and beating with grooved beaters, a process which often leaves undulations on the surface of the bark, also known as the beater mark. The cloth can then be decorated using colorants, applied...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Ubiquity Press
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Conservation and Museum Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.jcms-journal.com/articles/193 |
| _version_ | 1817988624997679104 |
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| author | Margaret J. Smith Aisling Macken |
| author_facet | Margaret J. Smith Aisling Macken |
| author_sort | Margaret J. Smith |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The creation of barkcloth begins with harvesting the inner bark of certain types of trees followed by soaking and beating with grooved beaters, a process which often leaves undulations on the surface of the bark, also known as the beater mark. The cloth can then be decorated using colorants, applied as particulate pigments, dyes or paints. The resulting material is highly ornate with varying surface textures and colours. The usefulness of stereo and standard light microscopy, ranging from around x10 for low and up to x200 for high-magnification microscopy, and macro photography to examine the subtleties of the surface of the cloth is highlighted in this research, with examples of barkcloth from the Hunterian, University of Glasgow, Glasgow and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London collections. Examples of beater marks, particulate dye material, cracking painted surfaces, as well as the presence of two species used to create one cloth are shown, aspects that are not immediately obvious when examining the cloths with the naked eye. To further enhance the analysis from microscopy XRF and FTIR were used when appropriate. Observing the material in this way can increase appreciation for the aesthetic aspects of barkcloth and can further knowledge of the materials used in production. This can inform condition reports, storage requirements, and potential conservation treatments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T00:37:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ee2d13b22b41470990a8af815b2decf5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1364-0429 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T00:37:20Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | Ubiquity Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Conservation and Museum Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-ee2d13b22b41470990a8af815b2decf52022-12-22T02:22:20ZengUbiquity PressJournal of Conservation and Museum Studies1364-04292020-10-0118110.5334/jcms.19397Pacific Barkcloth Under the Microscope – Characterisation of Condition, Decoration and StructureMargaret J. Smith0Aisling Macken1Centre for Textile Conservation and Technical Art History School of Culture and Creative Arts University of Glasgow, 8 University Gardens, GlasgowNational Maritime Museum, Park Row, Greenwich Peninsula, Greenwich, LondonThe creation of barkcloth begins with harvesting the inner bark of certain types of trees followed by soaking and beating with grooved beaters, a process which often leaves undulations on the surface of the bark, also known as the beater mark. The cloth can then be decorated using colorants, applied as particulate pigments, dyes or paints. The resulting material is highly ornate with varying surface textures and colours. The usefulness of stereo and standard light microscopy, ranging from around x10 for low and up to x200 for high-magnification microscopy, and macro photography to examine the subtleties of the surface of the cloth is highlighted in this research, with examples of barkcloth from the Hunterian, University of Glasgow, Glasgow and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London collections. Examples of beater marks, particulate dye material, cracking painted surfaces, as well as the presence of two species used to create one cloth are shown, aspects that are not immediately obvious when examining the cloths with the naked eye. To further enhance the analysis from microscopy XRF and FTIR were used when appropriate. Observing the material in this way can increase appreciation for the aesthetic aspects of barkcloth and can further knowledge of the materials used in production. This can inform condition reports, storage requirements, and potential conservation treatments.https://www.jcms-journal.com/articles/193barkclothtapamicroscopyfibresmanufacturecolorantsdyesdegradationconservation |
| spellingShingle | Margaret J. Smith Aisling Macken Pacific Barkcloth Under the Microscope – Characterisation of Condition, Decoration and Structure Journal of Conservation and Museum Studies barkcloth tapa microscopy fibres manufacture colorants dyes degradation conservation |
| title | Pacific Barkcloth Under the Microscope – Characterisation of Condition, Decoration and Structure |
| title_full | Pacific Barkcloth Under the Microscope – Characterisation of Condition, Decoration and Structure |
| title_fullStr | Pacific Barkcloth Under the Microscope – Characterisation of Condition, Decoration and Structure |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pacific Barkcloth Under the Microscope – Characterisation of Condition, Decoration and Structure |
| title_short | Pacific Barkcloth Under the Microscope – Characterisation of Condition, Decoration and Structure |
| title_sort | pacific barkcloth under the microscope characterisation of condition decoration and structure |
| topic | barkcloth tapa microscopy fibres manufacture colorants dyes degradation conservation |
| url | https://www.jcms-journal.com/articles/193 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT margaretjsmith pacificbarkclothunderthemicroscopecharacterisationofconditiondecorationandstructure AT aislingmacken pacificbarkclothunderthemicroscopecharacterisationofconditiondecorationandstructure |