Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Acid Free Paper for Wedding Gown Preservation

By Richard Jennings

Acid free paper is essential for wedding gown preservations. It is used to stuff the gown bodice and to protect the dress from wrinkles and hard creases when stored. The archival storage of textiles and garments also calls for acid free paper. Unbuffered tissue paper is the kind most conservators use. Collectibles such as Beanies should be placed in acid free paper. They need to be lightly wrapped and placed in an acid free chest or a small Tyvek bag.

Several types of acid free paper are available. Soft, thin acid free tissue should be used. It is lignin free and contains no buffering agents. It has a pH of 7.0 Due to its softness it can also be used between the pages of color photographs, or to wrap wool and silk fabrics. It is used to cushion and pad other artifacts. Breaking and scuffing during handling and storage is prevented.

An acid free preservation box is also a requirement for wedding dress preservations. You will need to line the bottom and sides of the box with tissue. You must also use the tissue to stuff the sleeves of the dress. Another item needed is an acid free bust form which you will line with the tissue. If you can't find one, you can always use wadded up acid free paper to shape the bodice. After you have shaped it you will then carefully place the gown in the box front side down and hanging over the edges of the box.

Lastly, the bodice gets folded back over placed in the box to make it look good. The sleeves of the gown should be stuffed with rolled up tissue and placed over the bodice so they look natural. If the bodice is plain and the train is fancy you may move the train around so it may be seen better.

Next, the train gets folded into the box, placing tissue between the folds and positioned so it looks nice. Fold the train carefully into the box while padding the folds with tissue. Continue gently folding the train into the box until all the sections are neatly arranged.

In order to keep the gown from sliding around inside the box you will need to stuff more tissue paper along side the gown inside the box. Muslin will serve the same purpose. You have now packed and protected your gown so it may be safely stored. You may use a Tyvek gown bag instead of a box if you prefer

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