WW2 Silk map care advice please

[t mo]

hi nanny jan
thanks for posting that this acid free tissue paper comes up a lot for protecting artefactsdo you know where to get it ?.
also just this second had a thought if you had 2 pieces of boardabout the same size as the map and placed it between them with a bit of weight on the top over time that would help get the creases out and protect it from the light with the tissue paper between as well of course !!
trevor

[nanny jan]

Hi Trevor,


The V&A gave lots of advice including sources of acid-free tissue paper; had a similar thought as yourself as to storing the map.   



Nanny Jan

[t mo]

hi nanny jan
see great minds and all that    i,ll do a google search for that tisue paper there,s bound to be something on it  .
trevor

[PrueM]

Hi Nanny Jan

It looks and sounds like silk to me.  Silk becomes very weak over time and with exposure to light and acidic conditions, and can shatter if handled or manipulated, so be careful. Don't iron it, or roll it, for now - leave it sitting flat somewhere safe and relatively dark

I recommend that you read the general care instructions for textiles given by the various conservation organisations around the world - they are specifically designed for the care of old textiles, rather than everyday stuff.  There is a link here which gives web addresses:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,66915.0.html

If you want more advice about flattening and storing it, or continuing to display it, a textile conservator should be your next port of call.  Most will give you a free consultation over the phone.  You could also call your local or regional museum to get advice from them.

Cheers
Prue

[nanny jan]

Hi Prue,

I'm torn between storing it in acid free paper in the dark and displaying it!  It would be difficult as it is double sided so I think it will live in the dark and be shown on request only.   

I will contact a local museum that specialises in old clothes; plenty of silk items there!

It's thanks to a young French girl, who "liberated" it, and my dad for storing it for so long, that I now have this link to my uncle.


Nanny Jan

[nanny jan]

Found a modest size (and reasonably priced) pack of acid free tissue paper of the right size at the National Archives today.   Can now store the map!     


Nanny Jan

[t mo]

hi nanny jan
thats good i like the bit reasonably priced especially, normally it means paying through the nose for something like that , it,s a shame it has to be kept hidden away as it would have been a really nice piece to display ,but i suppose if it,s pressed between boards for a while to get the worst of the creases out you could photograph it again and have those blown up to full size and framed it should look just as good.

thanks for letting us know where to get the tissue paper .
trevor

[nanny jan]

Hi Trevor,

Thanks for the idea of crease removal and then photographs.   

Acid free tissue paper £1.30 for 20 sheets;  a very good deal I thought compared to other suppliers.



Nanny Jan

[t mo]

hi nanny jan
it,s a pleasure to help , and that price for the tissue paper sure is good especially from somewhere like the tna where you would expect to pay more normally .
trevor