Mennonite frame

I have recently received a family heirloom produced in Ukraine in
1906 for treatment of its frame.  This object consists of an
inscription which is surrounded by a wreath of flowers.  This wreath
is made of metallic wire and thread, shiny metal (tin?) petals and
leaves, and a good number of flowers and buds formed out of human
hair.  The inner face of the frame is decorated with embossed silver
paper, with metal decorative ornaments (tin? lead?) added in the
corners.  Most of these pieces in corner have lost their silvery
shine and turned a matte dark grey/black colour.  A reddish brown
colour is present on many of the petals and leaves, often in a halo
around the spot where they have been soldered to metal wire stems.

Can anyone provide any information about this type of artefact?
Suggestions for dealing with the discoloured/corroded elements
would also be appreciated.

John Gayer


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 16:31
                 Distributed: Monday, November 4, 2002
                       Message Id: cdl-16-31-005
                                  ***