STATE OF CONSERVATION
The main alteration in this piece is the state of conservation of the fabric forming the lid of the glass bottle. It is a very finely woven fabric (probably a combination of cotton fibre and polyester) which, due to exposure, is very oxidised and dehydrated. The state of conservation of the fabric (of the same composition) inside the bottle - and thus protected by glass - is visibly much better.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MATERIAL, Fabric:
The cellulose and protein molecules of the plant and animal fibres of cotton are lacking in colour and are not affected by light as rapidly. But complex reactions occur in fabrics that have fibres associated with dyes, binders, finishing agents, pigments, colorants, emulsions (as in the case of the work on which we did the study) or dust under the effect of light. One of those reactions is the weakening or "softening" of the fibres, because the long molecules that actually provide them with greater resistance break. Besides weakening the fibres, the complex photochemical reactions that take place can give rise to coloured decomposition products capable of dyeing the fabrics. That in turn increases the susceptibility of cellulose fibres to corrosion by slightly alkaline solutions used for washing.

Sample reference number: 194/1

Sample description:
The sample is a fragment of fabric of the support on which there is black dye or paint. The aim of the study is to characterise the materials.

Analysis:
The sample was analysed and observed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The composition of the dye used by the artist could not be determined, but the morphology of the fibres observed could be classified as "cotton fibres".

SEM image of the support fabric fibres; their morphology tells us that they are probably cotton fibres

Electron microscope image of the support fabric fibres

Sample reference number: 194/2

Sample description:
The sample is a fragment of string. The aim of the analysis is to establish its nature and the type of fibres it consists of.

Analysis:
The sample was analysed and observed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Observation of this sample leads us to believe that cotton is the support fibre. Observation under an optical microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) allowed us to see that the string fibres are strongly bonded. The macroscopic appearance of the sample is one of tough, hard-to-handle string. Despite that, some of the string fibres could be separated. The findings of this observation show that the main fibre is cotton, characterised by ribbon-shaped waves and a characteristic cross-section.

SEM image of the string fibres;
their morphology tells us that they are probably cotton fibres

Electron microscope image of the support fabric fibres

Electron microscope image of the support fabric fibres

Sample reference number: 194/3

Sample description:
The sample is a fragment of white fabric (the weave can be seen). The aim of the study is to analyse the type of fibre.

Analysis:
The sample was analysed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. As observed in these images, the fibres have a fairly characteristic morphology that probably corresponds to cotton.

SEM image of the support fabric fibres; their morphology tells us that they are probably cotton fibres

Electron microscope image of the support fabric fibres
pH           lid fabric           4,80

CONCLUSIONS
After performing the study we found that we were faced with a work whose conservation is complex. The fabric's conservation is particularly complex because the oxidation of the print dye on it represents a continuous process of intrinsic deterioration that is hard to neutralise.