I agree with Greg's suggestions, and I am a conservator.  In fact, I previously was on staff at the Smithsonian's Museum Conservation Institute (called Conservation Analytical Laboratory at that time) as the Chief Wooden Objects Conservator.  Mold/mildew is commonplace on furniture.  Anyone who has lived in an historic house has found it at one time or another.  I currently live in a c. 1760/1820 house, and mold grows every summer and goes dormant every winter.  The main issue is the RH of the environment.  A table near the window would have experienced lower temperatures in the spring/fall (thus higher RH) and therefore may have reached mold/mildew growing conditions even if other objects in the house had not.  For most people, mold/mildew in these circumstances is not harmful, as we humans have had thousands of years of exposure and have developed some degree of tolerance.  If it affects you, stay away and let someone else handle the issue.  Simple cleaning as Greg suggests should work fine.  The risk of significant permanent damage to the table is small from this outbreak.  It probably will not occur again, particularly if you move it a bit further from the window when you reinstall it.  Even 6 inches further away from the window may be enough.  Please let me know if I can further assist you.
 
Marc

American Conservation Consortium, Ltd.
     4 Rockville Road
     Broad Brook, CT 06016
     www.conservator.com
     860-386-6058
 
*Collections Preservation Consultation
*Conservation Assessments & Surveys
*Environmental Monitoring & Low-Tech Control
*Moisture Management Solutions
*Collections in Historic Structures
*Collections Care Grant Preparation
*Conservation Treatment of:
     Furniture
     Painted Wood
     Horse-Drawn Vehicles
     Architectural Interiors
     Decorative Objects & Folk Art
 
Marc A. Williams, President
     MS in Art Conservation, Winterthur Museum Program
     Former Chief Wooden Objects Conservator, Smithsonian Institution
     Fellow, American Institute for Conservation (AIC)
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">Jackson, Gregory
To: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 1:35 PM
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] mold on wooden furniture

Hi Cindy,

 

You can simply wipe the mold off with a soft cloth or brush.  If you are sensitive to mold, you might want to use a respirator or have a small vacuum handy.  More importantly, you should determine the cause of the mold outbreak (heat and moisture from the window, possibly) and try to mitigate it.  If it looks as if the mold has  done some damage to the wood that needs repair, contact a conservator.  Below is a link to the Smithsonian’s Museum Conservation Institute technical bulletin on furniture and wooden objects if you want more information.

 

http://www.si.edu/mci/english/learn_more/taking_care/biodetwood.html

 

Good luck,

 

Greg

 

Gregory A. Jackson, CA

Archivist, Bryn Athyn Historic District

Glencairn Museum

www.glencairnmuseum.org

267.502.2421

 

 

 

From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Cindy Boyer
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 12:13 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] mold on wooden furniture

 

We are having some interior spaces painted at our historic site.  In moving a closed leaf table that had been near a window and hardly ever accessed we discovered spots of mold on the leaf that had been facing the window and wall.

 

I don’t want to blindly trust the wisdom of the internet.  What source can I trust to clean the table safely?

 

It is about 200 years old, with a stain finish.

 

Thanks listers!

 

Cindy Boyer

Director of Public Programs

The Landmark Society of Western New York

133 S. Fitzhugh St.

Rochester NY  14608

(585) 546-7029 ext. 12

[log in to unmask]

Fax:  (585) 546-4788

 

 

 

The Landmark Society:  Celebrating 75 years as one of America's oldest and most active preservation organizations!

 

www.landmarksociety.org

Facebook

 

 

 

To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1


To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1


To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-HOME.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1