Venue: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology 

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This expert meeting is part of the SAFESILK research project, an FWO/ARIS funded WEAVE project and jointly organized by the University of Antwerp, Belgium and the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. The workshop will take place on Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th of March 2025, and aims to bring together researchers and scholars who are interested in the preservation of historical salt-treated silk fabrics. The goal is to share, update, and discuss our current knowledge on the production, trade, degradation and conservation of historical salt-treated silk fabrics. Besides the seminars, the two-day interdisciplinary workshop will include a guided tour through the National Museum of Slovenia.

Expert Meeting Program

Monday 24 March 2025

Morning session 1:  Introduction to (weighted silk)

9:00 - Welcoming Talks: Prof. Matija Strlic (UNI-Lj) and Prof, Geert Van der Snickt (UAntwerp), promotors of the SAFESILK project

9:15-9:45 Dr Andreja Urbanek Kranjc, University of Maribor: An introduction to silk and the ARACNE project (EU Horizon)

9:45-10:15 PhD Chiara Vettorazzo, University of Antwerp: What is weighted silk: historical recipes, reproduction and aging experiments

10:15-10:45 Dr. Paul Garside, University of Glasgow: The degradation of weighted silk objects 

10:45-11:15 COFFEE BREAK

Morning session 2:  Weighted silk in collections (Part 1)

11:15-11:45 Kim Verkens, MoMu Antwerp: Silk degradation in collections (cases and experiences)

11:45-12:15 César Rodríguez Salina, Textile and Fashion Conservator Kunstmuseum Den Haag: Weighted silk? Understanding the degradation elements presented in few pieces from Kunstmuseum Den Haag fashion collection

12:15-13:15 LUNCH

Afternoon session 1: Weighted silk in collections (Part 2)

13:15-13:45 Roberta Genta, CCR 'La Venaria Reale': Treatment of degrading silk objects in collections

13:45-14:15 Marjolein Koek, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam: Silk degradation in collections (prevention and conservation)​

Afternoon session 2: Tracing and monitoring degrading silk  

14:15-14:45 PhD Alina Krotova, University of Antwerp: Indentification and classification of weighted silks using PXRF

14:45-15:15 PhD Ludovico Geminiani, University of Insumbria: Evaluating silk condition by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and thermal analysis

15:15-15:45 PhD Ibrahim Elrefaey, University of Ljubljana: Spectroscopic Characterization of degrading weighted silk

Tuesday 25 March 2025

9:00-9:15 Opening word by Mr. Koenraad Van de Borne (Diplomatic Representative of Flanders in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia)

Morning session: Understanding the chemistry of degrading silk

9:15-9:45 Dr Monika A. Koperska, Jageiellonian University: Problems with Artificial Thermo-Aging of Bombyx Mori Silk Fibroin – What Are We Really Triggering?

9:45-10:15 Dr. Nathan Ferrandin-Schoffel, SIMM laboratory: Spectroscopic investigations into the dyeing properties of wild silks

10:15-10:45 Dr. Fabiana Di Gianvincenzo, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam: MS methods to study weighted silk degradation

10:45-11:15 Dr. Ineke Joosten, RCE: Degradation of marine silk

LUNCH

Afternoon session: 

Guided visit to the Narodni Muzej Slovenije Metelkova (National Museum Slovenia)