I think the main problem is that we are so used to seeing paintings that
have been air-brushed in media. There are plenty of painting, textiles,
costumes, that have been in private and institutional collections that have
lost so much in detail lost to grime or aging process. I recall being so
disappointed with seeing a very popular painting in a museum. It was so
cracked that it looked nothing like what we know it as. Someone had to tell
me what it was and I sat for 30 minutes looking at it.
The controversy among our field of interest, historic costume is to restore
or not. And if chosen to restore, is the funding and expertise available.
A very big dealer told me recently concerning restoration... that either
costume dies a quick death if the restoration fails. If you have succeeded
and saved its life, the costume will shine its glory for several more
generations to learn from.
I have recently been dabbling in restoration. I talked with several people
as how to go about it. I can't tell you how rewarding it is to bring
something back to life! I am working with items that I call the ICU of
costumes. One of my long term goals is to learn beading and work on some of
the 1920s dresses or what were once dresses. I want to piece to them
together for the beading patterns and document them. I am doing this at my
own expensive. Universities don't budget for these things or think that the
beading patterns of an era or important except if they belonged to a famous
person. But I know the beauty of the designs are there. And I am learning
a new skill
One of my restoration projects is a 19th Century bonnet of thin netting and
pineapple straw. The straw lace has held up wonderfully but the netting is
gone on one half of the bonnet. I have looked and looked at this bonnet and
I think I can really save it. When I took it out of the box, it was all
meshed together. It took a while to get it untangled. But it will be an
interesting challenge for me.
Penny Ladnier,
Owner, The Costume Gallery Websites
www.costumegallery.com
www.costumelibrary.com
www.costumeclassroom.com
www.costumeencyclopedia.com
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