… a seam in a textile fragment, probably 18th century @Museum of Fine Arts, Boston !
looking forward to analysing the pattern and stitches of the seam !
The first time I saw a seam in a patterned canvas was in
the x-ray of a Piero di Cosimo’s painting from 1495
https://collections.mfa.org/objects/115011/towel…
https://www.artrenewal.org/…/the-finding-of…/15678
….thanks to all at Factum Foundation for the inspiring visit I could make on the 23th of January.
I love the work you are doing with the reconstructions of historic canvases.
Reconstruction of the canvas of Velazquez’s Supper at Emmaus, 1620 and located in The MET New York, with a rabbit glue and champaign chalk ground layer on top.
The image of the surface of the reconstruction of the canvas of Velázquez “Supper at Emmaus” 1620, was captured using the Selene PSS at a resolution of 1000 dpi, showcasing both color and 3D details. Courtesy of Jorge Cano, Head of R&D at Factum Foundation
newsletter at https://www.factumfoundation.org
Thank you Adam Lowe, Carlos Bayod and Jorge Cano
I love this mission !
“Evidence Unraveled, 17th-Century Canvas Exposes”
a very interesting project in Museum Bussemakerhuis in The Netherlands! https://www.museumbussemakerhuis.nl/…/ontrafeld…/…
It is about the reconstruction of a plain weave canvas from the 17th century.
Density of warp and weft has been found by Automated Thread Counting software.
“Automatic thread counting software, developed by Professors Don H. Johnson (Rice University) and Professor C. Richard Johnson, Jr. (Cornell University) provides thread counts, referred to here as thread density, covering the entire painting. These density measurements have proven to be far more informative than spot counts, even highlighting the potential inaccuracy of manual spot counts. (source: https://www.ece.rice.edu/~dhj/TCAP/ITC.html
Automated Thread Counting analyses can create “Thread Density- and Thread Angle Maps” which lead to finding spots in the canvas where “cusping” and “weft snakes”, a subtle cusping-like feature, become visible. (between others)
My curiosity to seeing if this software would provide the information about thread count in canvases with a complex woven pattern has lead to a pilot trial with Professor Don H. Johnson at rice University.
“The current algorithm does have trouble with “fancy” weave patterns, like diamond. In most cases, the analysis of twill and herringbone is possible. A lot depends on the quality of the x-rays.
But there is hope for an improved thread counting algorithm !”
I would love to discuss this topic with both textile- and computer engineering lovers!
Thanks to the editors for presenting the work in such nice way!
…feeling so honoured to be invited as the keynote speaker at the upcoming forum in Vermont USA !
Thank you Rabbitt Susan Goody for your support, amazing work and love for historical textiles !
The Textile History Forum seeks papers and presentations on all aspects of textile history from the Pre-Columbian period through the twenty-first century, including textile
technology, costume, quilts, weaving, dyeing, spinning, technological innovations and textile availability. The Forum is looking to include additional aspects of material culture i.e. how textiles fit into their cultural and social places, how textiles are valued, ceremonial use of textiles and the individuals who made and used them.
The Textile History Forum encourages the submission of scholarly work from historians, anthropologists and economists as well as independent researchers, individuals working the field, crafts people and collectors. Current and unpublished research is especially encouraged. Those interested in presenting a paper at the Forum should submit a one-page proposal. In addition to formal paper presentations, those interested in presenting a “work-in-progress” are also encouraged to submit a few paragraphs about their work. The Works-in-progress sessions are short presentations and no written paper is required.
—————Join Textile Conservator, Cristina Balloffet Carr, in her discussion with Helena Loermans on the fascinating topic: research and reconstructions of historic canvases at Lab O.———————–
Many thanks to Ksynia Marko and ICON Textile Group for the opportunity to share the interesting work by Anna Forrest on the archaeological textile finds.
By connecting the patterns in historic canvases and the textile finds we may find answers to the questions that arise ..
I love where disciplines join!
Thanks to all of you who were there on the 14th of November.
… the story of how we ‘incidentally’ met is amazing on itself ! Feels as if I was ‘guided’ by an Old Master to be in Anna Forrest ‘s online talk about The Oxburgh Hall finds, and stay there… My heart started to beat faster when Anna spoke about the textiles and I could not believe my eyes when she ‘choose’ to show the piece of textile above in close up…
Announcement of the talk: ICON Textile Group
There’s still time to book tickets for our talk next week on Monday 14th November on Archaeological textile finds, such as the wonderful examples shown in these images, found at Oxburgh Hall – National Trust. With Anna Forrest and Helena Loermans.
What can archaeological finds and the close inspection of artefacts, specifically textiles, reveal about the past?
Find out at our next talk, which will be in two halves. First we will hear from former National Trust curator Anna Forrest about the underfloor discoveries made during the reroofing project at Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk, finds ranging from fragments of late 16th c. books to high status Elizabethan textiles, and then we will learn from Helena Loemans how close weave analysis can add to our understanding of how textiles were made, and their origins.
Image credits:National Trust/Mike Hodgsen
—————————-
Many thanks to
Janina Poskrobko,
Conservator in Charge and
Cristina Balloffet Carr,
Conservator at the
Department of Textile Conservation, for inviting me and for your support of my work.
Many thanks to Antonia Capasso,
Associate Administrator for the excellent organisation of this talk.
Last but not least, thanks to all of you who joined the talk yesterday 
Looking forward to seeing you!
…research is also about sharing!
I count myself privileged with many good ideas and comments from others!
Here is what an art hsitorian and specialist in database wrote to me :
“I think even for me as a trained art historian I was amazed about the implications of the canvas. I had never thought about it before and I think most have not yet. So to create a platform for your information would be a starting point to focus the research of others onto this aspect of the artwork. By bringing different data over time periods and artists will give future researchers the possibility to ask profound question about the why and how. And if we could have a wide variety of data we could start using data mining techniques to find hidden relationships between the artworks and the craftsmanship over time periods and space.”
work in progress!
