Question Cleaning an antique dress

[QuickDraw]

I have a customer that has a dress that is at least 100 years old that was her granny's dedication dress. It has been worn by all the children, and then the grandchildren (one as recently as 5 years ago) and now she would like to frame it to preserve it as well as possible. She realizes the delicacy of the piece and the importance of having it properly treated and has asked for a recommendation for someone to treat prior to framing. Any suggestions from the Atlanta area framers out there?

 

[BILL WARD]

been done, here, before do searching
I would NOT be the one to do any of the cleaning(if it were to be done at all). Further, something that old is most probably getting a bit on the delicate side(beyond it's already delicate nature)---I would not look favorable on ANY cleaning(unless maybe the dry cleaning people want to take the respondiblity for it and they do it 'by hand'-& if so dont forget to let it 'air' for a goodly loong period B4 framing). Don't forget to advise them to repair any frays/tears, etc.-you don't want THAT kind of buyer's remorse poping up! Unless it has major dirty spots(chocolate icecream, pen inks, etc) I'd just frame the ol' dame and leave it at that...
I rank this right up there with the soiled hand stichings brought in----it ain't MY problem they dont wash their hands...I will do it as is if that's the final descision BUT remind them that it will BE DIRTY forever and that if they wash it in any of the 'approved' cleansers the yarn inks may well run and ruin the appearence that way...likely a #### shoot as the ones I get in here will have thrown/given away any 'samples' of their threads.

 

[GreenTea]

I would evaluate each piece on a case-by-case basis. The age of the piece doesn't necessarily indicate the potential eligibility for success. If the dress was exposed to elements that rendered it brittle and unmanageably fragile, I wouldn't touch it. But if it was just old, and yellowed with age, but otherwise structurally intact - I would clean it with a very high quality soap. I haven't done anything like this recently, but when I had in the past I would use delicate, high-quality powders from a company called La Bouquetiere, Inc. from San Francisco.
This is something that I really enjoyed, and was willing to take the time to do right. The man that owned the shop I worked for at the time wouldn't have considered doing this in a million years. In any case we had the customer sign a release of liability in case anything were to happen (it never did though, thank goodness).

 

[Baer Charlton]

Fabric Conservator ONLY! I just called my friends with 50+years in the cleaning business. Dry cleaning to the almost extreme...... As I started to read your post.... Don jumped in and started chanting "conservator conservator conservator..." all the time his wife is saying "I don't know...." Then when it got to her turn in the opinion pole... her very strong and wise levelheaded take on the whole thing..... Margaritas first... then conservator.

Straight from my experts who have saved some amazing things..... but know when they wouldn't touch it.

 

[QuickDraw]

Fabric Conservator ONLY! I just called my friends with 50+years in the cleaning business. Dry cleaning to the almost extreme...... As I started to read your post.... Don jumped in and started chanting "conservator conservator conservator..." all the time his wife is saying "I don't know...." Then when it got to her turn in the opinion pole... her very strong and wise levelheaded take on the whole thing..... Margaritas first... then conservator.

Straight from my experts who have saved some amazing things..... but know when they wouldn't touch it.

This was what I was thinking. Now anyone know a good fabric conservator in Atlanta area??

 

[framah]

Don't forget the most important part of Baers post...

Margaritas first!!..

Always remember to follow the advise of the experts in matter like this.