Japanese calligraphy, 1939
Media: Black sumi ink on off-white silk

Condition before treatment: The silk is stapled to unsealed plywood. The silk has lost some strength and there are a few scattered splits in the fabric. The silk is discolored overall, especially in areas exposed to light. There are scattered flyspecks, water stains and abrasions, and a loss at the upper left corner.

Treatment summary: Removed from plywood and cleaned on the suction table using a solution of WA Paste and distilled water. Rinsed with distilled water. Bleached by misting with a very dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide in distilled water, and rinsed with distilled water till residual peroxides tested at less than 0.5mg/l. Tears mended on the back with reversible mending tissue made from acrylic adhesive and Japanese paper. Archival quality backing board made from Coroplast faced with rag matboard, padded with needlepunched polyester padding and covered with washed unbleached muslin. The reverse was stiffened with custom milled red cedar sealed with waterbased urethane and applied with silicone adhesive. The silk textile was placed on the new mount and edges stitched in place with fine polyester thread.