Our client brought in a 3 piece christening gown that has been
used by various members of her family over the past 60 years.
This 3 piece set, consisting of gown, bonnet and slip, has a
rather interesting history ...
The gown, bonnet and slip were handmade in 1949 or 1950 by our
client's grandmother who was a dressmaker in Sydney, Australia.
The lace for the gown and bonnet came from our client's mother's
wedding gown and the silk from her maternal grandmother's wedding
gown.
Unfortunately, the gown had
soiled and yellowed over time due to improper cleaning
and storage. And, as a direct consequence, the silk had acidified
and appeared to be rather weak.
The challenge on this restoration was to restore the gown to as
close to "white" as possible, while, simultaneously, preserving the
"strength" of the fibers. Improper handling and cleaning could have
resulted in a pile of threads.
Our client picked up the christening gown last night. To say
that she was overjoyed with the results would be an
understatement.
The christening gown is to be used this coming Sunday.
Thereafter, our client is going to return it to us for recleaning
and
archival preservation.
The following before and after photos reflect the transformation
...
Before
After
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