Dear John and Sonya,
Perhaps I should have been more clear...I received my degree in ethnographic
and archaeological objects conservation at New York University in 2000, and
my experience with baskets comes from two years of internships and
fellowships at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian.
Baskets emphatically DO NOT need extra moisture added to them to preserve
them. Indeed, this is proven to be damaging to baskets. It is a common
misconception to state that an artifact made to be exposed to certain
conditions and stresses during its useful life can therefore withstand the
same conditions and stresses in an aged condition. Aging involves
deterioration that makes materials significantly weaker over time. Basketry
suffers embrittlement over time which can be exacerbated with repeated
exposure to moisture. Briefly, the molecules have both crystalline
(brittle, non water-absorbing regions) and amorphous gel regions
(water-absorbing regions that allow flexibility, compression, tension, and
elasticity)...each time the basket is wet, the crystallinity increases and
moisture regain ability decreases. In essence, each time you wet an old
basket and allow it to dry, you are making it MORE BRITTLE. For more on
this process, see Dale Kronkright's chapter "Deterioration of Artifacts Made
from Plant Materials" in the 1990 Getty publication "The Conservation of
Artifacts Made from Plant Materials." An appropriate humidity level (55%RH)
where the basket is stored is the proper way to prevent a basket from
becoming too dry. Furthermore, soot is oily by nature and as you know, oil
and water do not mix, making water a poor choice for a cleaning solution
even if moisture were safe for baskets. If gentle blasts of compressed air
and the soot sponge fail to remove the soot, consultation with a
professional conservator is advised, since the solvent combinations, proper
application, ventilation and so forth are not recommended for the average
museum professional. These wet cleaning methods are far more likely to
drive the soot down into the microstructures of the basket than gentle
surface clenaing with a soot sponge. To find a conservator in your area,
check the website for the American Institute of Conservation at
www.aic.stanford.edu
Ellen Carrlee
Curator of Collections and Exhibits
Juneau-Douglas City Museum
Conservator in private practice
>-----Original Message-----
>From: John Martinson [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2003 4:50 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Cleaning basketry (student question)
>
>
>Sonya: With the sponge, you may be driving the soot into the
>cracks of the
>basket and
>creating more problems. I've seen a few museums and
>professional basket
>people
>(including Martha Stewart) recommending a fine mist spray and
>brush to clean
>their baskets. I would tend to agree with this view, since
>baskets need
>moisture and
>the dryness can destroy a basket some would say more than soot
>and dust.
>Baskets were made with the idea of holding food (berries,
>salmon or liquid)
>and the weaved containers soaked into the natural materials
>the oils and
>moisture from the foods, which assisted in keeping the basket soft and
>flexible.
>
>Indeed, I would agree to contact a professional curator or
>conservator such
>as at Maryhill Museum near Goldendale, WA or the Native
>American museum at
>the university in Vancouver, B.C.
>
>John Martinson
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Ellen Carrlee" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2003 12:13 AM
>Subject: Re: Cleaning basketry (student question)
>
>
>> Sonya, you may consider trying a product known as a Soot
>sponge, made of
>> natural vulcanized rubber. They are often sold in hardware
>stores under
>the
>> brand name Gonzo, and also marketed as a pet-hair remover.
>These sponges
>> can be cut into small cubes with a scissors and gently
>pulled over the
>> surface of the basket. A sponge costs around $5, and the
>surface of the
>> sponge can be cut back and discarded as it becomes soiled. Try this
>method
>> in a small area of a sturdy basket and see if you are
>finding a reduction
>in
>> the sooty deposit. Thank you for NOT considering a wet
>treatment at this
>> juncture! Remember that soot is greasy by nature...if the
>soot sponges do
>> not help, let me know or talk to another conservator for
>further advice.
>> Good luck!
>>
>> Ellen Carrlee
>>
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >From: Sonya Housholder [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> >Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2003 7:42 PM
>> >To: [log in to unmask]
>> >Subject: Cleaning basketry (student question)
>> >
>> >
>> >Good evening!
>> >
>> >I am a student and museum volunteer at the University
>> >of Iowa and am currently working on a collection of
>> >Philippine basketry that has been stored improperly
>> >(in unsealed boxes) for decades. I have discovered
>> >that the majority of the baskets are covered with a
>> >film of coal dust from when the building was heated by
>> >coal many years ago. I am writing to ask some advice
>> >on how to best clean these objects.
>> >
>> >In researching how to best care for basketry objects
>> >(I'm also using this topic for a class paper), I have
>> >read about several methods of cleaning, including
>> >brushing the baskets with a small painter's brush,
>> >vacuuming the objects, and using compressed air to
>> >remove dust. I am hesitant to use a brush because of
>> >the types of materials used in the baskets and the
>> >potential damage of "scrubbing" abrasions. As a
>> >general policy we do vacuum every object before
>> >returning it to storage, and I have had some success
>> >with this method. The layer of coal dust was removed
>> >but the baskets continue to have a grayish hue.
>> >Regarding the use of compressed air, the literature
>> >advises caution with using this method on physically
>> >damaged baskets. Unfortunately, many of our baskets
>> >have sustained some degree of physical damage while in
>> >storage. Are there other methods of cleaning basketry
>> >that might be more successful without causing further
>> >damage?
>> >
>> >I have searched the list archives and am attempting to
>> >track down a few sources listed there. However, I
>> >would also appreciate any suggestions that you might
>> >have as we are hoping to use some of the baskets in an
>> >exhibit next year. Thank you!
>> >
>> >Sonya Housholder
>> >University of Iowa student and
>> >Volunteer, Museum of Natural History
>> >
>> >
>> >__________________________________
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>> >
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