In a message dated 8/24/03 11:23:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< I have received about 4 requests for information about laundering fine linens. In one case, it was a piece of crochet dating from the 1940's that had had some red dye run into it. In another, a woman inquired about some cutwork, filet lace, and miscellaneous other things that appear to me as though they date from the first half of the 20th century, possibly the 1920's. She wants to know how to take care of them. >> ---------- Dear Devon, This is the kind of question I would expect members of the Metropolitan Museum would be asking the Ratti staff! There is probably someone at the Ratti with a card file of businesses who do this type of laundering. I used to have a New York City resources file of such specialty businesses, but it became too old to be of use. You can be sure the Park Avenue ladies send their fine linens to specialists in the city. It is also probable that the major auction houses in New York have someone they recommend. The suggestion that you contact an altar guild is excellent, because these ladies work with linens all the time. In your case, Devon, you actually know Claire - who belongs to the Embroiderers' Guild chapter in Summit. She belongs to a small group of embroiderers who go to St. John's Convent in Mendham (Episcopalian order of Sisters) which offers annual needlework lessons to altar guild members from all over the U.S. They might also be able to recommend a business in New York or New Jersey that cares for linens properly. By the way --- to all lacers --- just because something was made in the 20th Century does not mean it has little value. This has to be determined by a visual assessment! Not all linens and laces from any historic period or from different countries have the same value. Do not fall into the "20th Century so probably not special" trap!!!! If you are a beginner collector with limited financial resources, I would advise you to consider looking for, and purchasing 20th Century handmade laces that you like. Remember that compared to prior centuries very little lace was made by hand in the 20th Century. This means it will become scarce and more valuable sooner than you think. My buying decision when collecting is always "Do you love it?" A very beautiful 1920's to 1940's lace will not break your piggy bank. It is already 60 to 80 years old. Some people on this list would call it - antique. Since the subject of "how old is an antique" came up on Arachne last week, it is my understanding that U.S. government guidelines say that an item must be 100 to be classified as an antique when being imported. What I mean is - if you try to import something 60 years old and classify it as an antique -- an alert Customs agent will require you to pay import duty taxes on it. Everyone: Red dye on crochet is mentioned in the original question. I do not know the cause for the damage mentioned, but want to remind you the dyes from colored candle wax drippings can be impossible to identify and remove. Please use white candles. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
