ABSTRACT
The deterioration of tapestries can be attributed to the combined effects of external environmental conditions, such as fluctuations in relative humidity and exposure to light, and inherent factors, such as the nature of their component materials and the effect of supporting their own weight over long periods of time. As the environmental conditions fluctuate and the tapestry deteriorates, the effects of their own weight on its integrity will also change. Ultimately failure, to use an engineering term, will occur when the weight of the tapestry exceeds its strength.
