Ladies & Gentlemen of the List, this List seems to be honoured by a number of people whose professional work is - or has been - Costuming - for Museums, Theatre, Films, and the like. Reading many past Posts while I have been lurking in the shadows and learning from you all, I suspect that some of you also have expertise in the conservation and cleaning of historic clothing. I plead for help on behalf of my Lady and her sister, from such of you as have experience in the restoration/conservation of historic clothing - especially the metallic lace which so often is to be found upon "dress" uniforms. "Old" Jersey's Catholic "cathedral" has just undergone a £1Million+plus renovation, to restore the building to it's original 1870's "Gothic Revival" splendour. The Canon [Jersey's most senior Catholic priest] has subsequently - and as a part of the renovation - created a small exhibition - in purpose-made display-cases - in one of the underused side-chapels - of many religious items which have languished hidden in storage for years. Near-on 40 gorgeously-embroidered Copes and Chasubles have been discovered, for example, secreted in various cupboards and chests in seldom-visited corners of various Church properties. Some of these robes are believed to be over a century old, dating from the 1870's-80's. These robes will be displayed in rotation, so that visitors and Congregation may marvel at the High Craft of these wonderful examples of the highest-quality Embroidery. Chalices, pattens, monstrances, reliquaries, small shrines, and other items, - many presented to the new Church when it was first consecrated in 1873 - have now been cleaned and restored by my Lady and her sister, and are on-display for the first in over 60 years. One Monstrance is said to have been donated to the newly-consecrated St. Thomas'' Church by Louis Napoleon III, ex-Emperor of the French. A small coffered shrine, of over-gilded wood and plaster, now in restoration by myself - is known to have been donated by the Papacy of the Time. One of the exhibits is the Uniform of St. Thomas' "Suisse" [from the French "suivre" - to follow, rather than from the "Swiss" denoting a connection with the Papal Guard]. The Suisse led all the Church processions - carrying a Mace and a Spontoon, to "clear the way". The single-breasted swallow-tail coat is edged- and the "overall" trousers are striped down the side seams - with metallic "gold" lace, almost a bright as the day they were delivered from the Tailors, [because they were properly stored-away when the "office" of the Suisse was not filled by the local priest in the early 1960's, following the retirement of the previous Suisse]. However the Suisse's cocked hat, [worn "athwartships"] - also heavily ornamented with "gold" lace and trimmed with white ostrich feathers - was not so carefully stored-away, and - though the base fabric and feathers are untouched by Time, - the metallic lace has tarnished badly, and is now green instead of a bright gold. We would welcome suggestions as to how we might clean the metallic lace and restore it to a shine at least equal to that of the lace ornamenting the swallow-tail coat and the trousers. Thanking you in advance for your suggestions, Julian Wilson
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