----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, March 28, 2009 10:09 AM
Subject: starch
Hello Marie anne,
I have experience in the matter as I am conserving
450 starched coiffes and 200 collars from Britanny women
costumes, over a period of 4 years. I have conserved a great number of
bonnets or like as well. All theses objets are starched differently than
the men collars that are indeed looking and staying like cardboard whatever
you do to them!
However , it is easy to remove starch from all
these white objets you refer to, even the most stubborn will become supple. You
need to let them soak in successive bathes of tépid or even
cold demineralised water without detergent. The starch produce a milky
water that you need to change every 20 minutes . In my expérience
three baths are enough. Then you proceed with the normal conservation
washing procedures.
You just need to be very careful in the
handling of the objects as they have often other components like extremely
fine linen ot some lace or possibly silk.
It is also important to realise that most of
these objects have been washed many times and are well used . Multiple
baths may render them fragile while in the water. I use a net to support
them in the tray or to handle them outside the water.
I feel an enzyme treatment is not necessary or
appropriate in this case
In the case of some items, a small amount of starch
will remain and will be "reanimated" if you use a warmish iron over a paper or a
fine cloth.
Most of the time the fabric is free of
starch.
Which brings us to the other part of your
question.
It is not really a conservation practice to
starch a object. It is organic, prone to insects and deterioration. The starch
being effective with heat, you risk various stages of yelloying or
worse burning. In any case , the fabric will yellow immediatly or/and
later.
I agree it is not easy to present these objects
once de- starched. I use many sorts of "tricks"i;e independant supports
made of conservation material or "naturally" stiff material: melinex, net,
organza, organdi . It all depends the shape , fabric or degree of lightness
and transparency of the object. I do a sort of a double of the bonnet and
rest the object on it without pins .
I hope this is of help
Patricia
