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6865562 
Journal Article 
Salamander's wool: The historical evidence for textiles woven with asbestos fibre 
Browne, C 
2003 
1 
Textile History
ISSN: 0040-4969 
34 
1 
64-73 
English 
CCC:000222246900007 
In 1684 Members of the Royal Society of London discussed the nature of a type of woven cloth described as incombustible linen, or salamander's wool. It was an attempt to explain scientifically the phenomenon described in many cultures over more the 1,500 years, of a cloth which could be emerged in fire and emerge, not only unburnt, but even cleansed. Such cloth is known to have been woven using fibres from the mineral asbestos. This paper explores the evidence for the historical use of asbestos fibre in woven textiles before its rediscovery and commercial development for fire protection in the nineteenth century.