Preservation and conservation of Chinese fragile silk banners with pioneer spirit: new silk mesh reinforcement

Abstract

This study focuses on the conservation of two decayed and damaged silk banners from the Da Chen Island reclamation period in the 1960s. As significant carriers of China’s revolutionary spirit, the preservation and restoration of these banners are crucial for inheriting and promoting China’s revolutionary culture. The work initially employed non-destructive or minimally invasive characterization methods, including infrared spectroscopy, SEM and EDX spectroscopy, to analyze the banner samples and silk reference samples to determine the material and textile characteristics of the banners. Subsequently, based on the characterization results, an optimized restoration process was developed, which included flattening, cleaning, deacidification, decontamination, precise splicing, silk mesh reinforcement, hole filling, and complementary color. Finally, to ensure long-term preservation and display, a special storage box with fireproof, insect-proof, mold-proof, and acid-proof functions was prepared for the banners. Research results indicate that the banners achieved good restoration results after restoration using the silk mesh reinforcement, providing effective protection for their long-term preservation and display. Our work not only provides scientific evidence and technical support for the rescue and restoration of these precious banner artifacts, but also serves as an important reference for the conservation and restoration of other similar fragile silk textile artifacts.