Placemat, late 19th-early 20th century
Client
FIT Graduate Studies Collection
Goals of treatment
To improve pH, to decrease wrinkling, to remove a few small areas of staining, and to create a more even white color – in order to facilitate display and study
Summary of treatment
This cotton rectangular doily or placemat was wet cleaned and bleached, using sodium hydroxide as an oxidizing agent. While drying, the placemat was blocked to prevent shrinkage. Bleaching successfully minimized small discrete stains, pinholes, and overall discoloration.
