Please consult with a costume conservator first before doing anything! It may be too fragile to immerse in a water solution and could come apart as aged natural fibres are much weaker in water than when dry. Plus there was no mention of any coloured components that must be tested for fastness first. Please no exposure to sunlight! This museum artifact only has a certain amount of time - don't increase it's rate of deterioration by blasting it with sunlight (whoa! way more than the recommended 5 footcandles!). Please don't decrease or increase its pH by applying lemon juice or ammonia - remember that low and high pH are to be avoided because (start the chorus here) it increases the rate of deterioration also. Don't use Woolite - it contains perfumes that will be left behind which will (start the chorus again!) increase the rate of deterioration. To locate a costume conservator in your area, please contact the American Institute of Conservation for a free (yes, free!) referral (their website is http://aic.stanford.edu - click on Selecting A Conservator); phone (202)452-9545. And remember that the best course of action for this christening gown may be to take no action (except to handle, store and display it correctly). Meg Geiss-Mooney Costume/Textile Conservator Professional Associate, AIC Northern California Laura Pelton-Sweet wrote: > > I forgot - for that strange yellowed look that comes with age: > > This may be the result of the original owner using bluing to clean the > garment. To remove the yellow caused by bluing, lemon juice and salt work > well. I'd mix either one with water and then apply to the garment. Rinse > well. If you feel comfortable sun-drying the dress (spread out flat) for a > short period, that would help too. > > Laura > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Christine Dwyer <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2000 12:02 PM > Subject: Baby Clothes > > > Hello All, > > > > We have a baby's christening gown, circa 1850, made of cotton and lace. > The > > cotton is quite thin and has yellowed. Any suggestions on how to clean > it? > > Many thanks. > > > > > > Christine M. Dwyer, Director > > Stanly County Museum > > & Historic Preservation Commission > > 245 East Main Street, Albemarle, NC 28001 USA > > (704) 986-3777 (704) 986-3778 fax > > www.co.stanly.nc.us/Departments/Museum/index.htm > > > > > > > > > > > > ========================================================= > > Important Subscriber Information: > > > > The Museum-L FAQ file is located at > http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed > information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message > to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" > (without the quotes). > > > > If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to > [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff > Museum-L" (without the quotes). > > > > ========================================================= > Important Subscriber Information: > > The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). > > If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).