I agree that "patina" can be historically important and is often left in place, however, it depends on the nature of the artifact. Lipstick contains grease and staining colors which will likely cause degradation of the fabric. So it's probably a good idea to remove it, if it can be removed safely. I hope any conservators on the list will weigh in with their opinion. Nancy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wesley Creel" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 3:27 PM Subject: Re: lipstick stain on textile Good Afternoon Kim, Why remove it........there maybe a story behind this kind of evidence? I am always very hesitant to remove from any artifact any concretions, stains, marks, scars, dents, etc.....since such alterations (read: clues) may be evidence of past human behaviors and activities. If the lipstick stain won't hasten the degredation of the dress, I would leave it alone. I may be an museum administrator now....but back in the Bronze Age (when I didn't have to wear a coat and tie) I was once a curator of anthropology. Best Wishes, Wesley Wesley S. Creel Administrator of Programs Pink Palace Family of Museums 3050 Central Avenue Memphis, TN 38111-3399 www.memphismuseums.org (901) 320-6370 Direct (901) 320-6391 FAX >>> [log in to unmask] 05/13/04 01:13PM >>> Hello, I have a wedding dress with a small lipstick stain on the inside of the bodice. Can someone suggest a way to spot clean the lipstick? The fabric is nylon, and is not very old -- it was made in 1964. THANK YOU! Kim ===== Kimberly A. Kenney, Curator Wm. McKinley Presidential Library & Museum 800 McKinley Monument Dr. NW Canton OH 44708 * 330-455-7043 Visit the Ohio Memory Project at http://www.ohiomemory.org "Let us ever remember that our interests are in concord, not conflict; and that our real eminence rests in the victories of peace, not those of ar." --25th United States President William McKinley __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Movies - Buy advance tickets for 'Shrek 2' http://movies.yahoo.com/showtimes/movie?mid=1808405861 ========================================================= 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).