Silk vs Rayon?!?!?

[valerie]

Just inherited a beautiful tablecloth but Dad is a guy and doesn't know
and Mom has Alzheimer's so can't ask her... what I would like to know is
if anybody knows a non-damaging way to determine if a cloth is rayon
or silk. I can't get any threads from a seam or anything to test and I
really am stymied as to what this cloth is, silk or rayon. It has VERY
delicate lace on it and I would hate to ruin it by any testing methods.

Got any ideas? Let me know, and thanks!

[Der Wulf]

There should be a significant difference under magnification, do ya know a metallurgist or a geologist? ya need a reflected light microscope.

[libertine]

Tough call. Rayon can be made to look like just about any other fiber. If the cloth is very old, into the 1800s, it is probably silk, as rayon was first manufactured in the late 1890s.
Just as a practical guess, rayon is likely, as it is more durable than silk for something like a table cloth.
Take it to a fabric store. Someone there can probably tell you, or tell you how to find out.

[abbey]

Just had a quick Google and came up with this Valerie, have a look at The cloth
http://www.ancientroute.com/resource/cloth/silk.htm
Hope this link helps x.

[valerie]

Thanks everybody, turns out the cloth is rayon. The tips were great,
I really appreciate it!!