On 9/2, [log in to unmask] wrote:
...snip...
Just a thought, while I would not feel qualified to give advice on object
care,  in the past, somewhat stale bread, french, not whole wheat, was a
material commonly used by people, who took care of art, to lightly clean a
variety of objects. 
>............................

Just because my ancestors did it, doesn't mean it is a good thing to do. In
the not to distant past, people were sprayed with DDT to rid them of lice.
Not a recommended practice today.

>........................
 If a good rule for a conservator, as for a doctor, is first do no harm, it
seems a pretty risk free way to "dust", strictly a physical process as
opposed to a chemical one.  
>...............................

Are you actually suggesting that bread, a material formed by a complex
chemical reaction,  won't cause a chemical reaction?

>.....................................
There are large numbers of sound paintings that illustrate practices of the
past were not all harmful.  I wonder what shape 20th century paintings will
be in 500 years from now, not that it will be of any personal interest.  I
suspect in the dark corners of  European  labs there is still a loaf or two
lurking about. When all is said and done conservation is still more of an
art than a science.
>.................................

There are a large number of paintings that exhibit irreversible damage
caused by the practices of the past as well. And if you think modern
conservation isn't grounded in good science, please tell that to my
colleagues who spent entire undergraduate careers in chemistry labs and
biology classes. I do think you are selling the profession short.