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Treatment; 30 Jun 2016; surface clean. Check old repairs and repair new break to handle.; Organics

Reason: Permanent Exhibition
Description: The surface of the basket was cleaned using a low-powered vacuum cleaner and a small soft sable brush. The surface of the main body was further cleaned using small cubes of Chemsponge/smoke sponge (vulcanized rubber molecular trap, containing a minuscule percentage of mild soap i.e. <30grm per 500kg), held with bent tweezers and gently rubbed on the surface. A second vacuuming was carried out to remove any fragments of Chemsponge remaining on the surface. Repairs to loose / broken strands on the main body were carried out using coloured Japanese tissue secured to the strands with Arrowroot starch (starch) paste with sodium alginate (9:1). The bend on the broken strand from the handle was first relaxed with local humidity applied by “sandwiching” it between a layer of Goretex (polytetrafluoro ethylene,polyester laminate), damp blotter and Melinex (polyester), all held together around the strand with small pegs. This was left for c. 5 minutes, by which time it was possible to re-align the strand and allow it to dry in a straightened position. The detached end was then secured to a knot on an adjacent strand with a cotton thread knotted to itself. Because no perfectly matching colour was found, the cotton thread was first darkened with Liquitex acrylic – burnt amber – applied with a brush.
Details: Treatment