A study on the conservation and restoration of two quilts unearthed from the tomb of the Tuyuhun king Murong Zhi in Wuwei
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(1. Gansu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Lanzhou 730030, China;2. Key Scientific Research Base of Conservation for Excavated Organic Cultural Relics in Arid Environment (Gansu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology), Gansu Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage, Lanzhou 730030,China;3. Jingzhou Cultural Relics Conservation Center, Jingzhou 434000, China)

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    Abstract:

    As an indispensable item in ancient Chinese funeral ceremony, quilts served as an important medium for cultural inheritance and emotional expression. Two quilts unearthed from the tomb of the Tuyuhun king Murong Zhi in Wuwei, Gansu Province. One is a leno (Luo) quilt striped with brown and ochre stripes, and the other is a damask (Qi) quilt striped in yellow and deep red. Due to the long-term underground burial, both quilts suffered from severe deterioration. Scanning electron microscopy-energy disperse spectrometry (SEM-EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), ultra depth-of-field microscopy and ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) were used to conduct analysis and detection on the fiber materials, aging characteristics, pollutants and dye components. The results indicate that the quilts were made of mulberry silk and incorporated several wave structures, including leno, damask and plain weave. The detected pollutants mainly contained calcium phosphate precipitates and inorganic mineral particles. The identified dyes included madder, indigo and Phellodendron. Based on the scientific analysis, appropriate conservation and restoration measures were developed. Silk protein reinforcement technology was applied to reinforce the quilts overall, combined with backing and needlework, and missing parts were restored. After the restoration, the damages were effectively controlled, and the quilts’ historical appearances were largely recovered, providing a physical basis for the further research.

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History
  • Received:January 09,2025
  • Revised:July 12,2025
  • Adopted:
  • Online: March 12,2026
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