19th-century hat box

As a student in conservation-restoration of artworks on paper, I am
going to start treating a hat box and its top hat. The box is made
from several pieces of cardboard, covered by blue, pink and light
green paper, sewn (and not glued) together. It has a round base but
becomes oval at the top, and the lid is a curved oval. The main
issues are: discolouration of the papers, major tears, and
deformation of the lid.

I am therefore gathering literature on the following subjects:

    19th/early 20th cent. colored papers: manufacture, history, use,
    etc.
    Identification of colouring agents
    Top hats: manufacture, history, symbolic
    19th-20th century cardboard/paper boxes: history, uses in daily
    life
    Methods for treating warped cardboard

and any other subject you might find relevant.

I am comfortable with both English and French sources. I would be
glad to provide pictures if my description isn't helpful or if you
are simply curious about the box.

Lorraine Delatour


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 22:20
                 Distributed: Tuesday, October 7, 2008
                       Message Id: cdl-22-20-018
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