Genealogy Chat

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Today, by chance, we came upon a memento of a child’s death in 1921. This was my OH’s great aunt and she was only 18 months old at the time of her death – run over by a horse and cart. This memento is a piece of fabric measuring about 1½ inches across by about 7 inches long on what appears to be a ribbon like material –not sure if it’s silk or some substitute of the day. This piece of material is now deteriorating – if any pressure were placed upon it, it would split, and it is fraying round the edges. It has also been folded in half. I have Googled preservers of material and come up with one company but am not sure if they would take such a small (and to them) insignificant commission so I wondered if any kind soul on this board had any knowledge on how best to preserve this item? Or indeed if it can be preserved!! Any suggestions gratefully received. Snowdrops

Mum has a Victorian Bell Pull - It is a silk strip of fabric about three inches wide by about two feet long with a heavy brass ring at the bottom (tug it and a servant should appear, apparently, though it doesn't seem to work these days!). About 30 years ago the cotton fabric that made up the reverse on the bell pull finally gave up the ghost and the silk was in danger of tearing and fraying in the way you describe, so it was taken down of the wall. Mum bought some cotton fabric and stitched the silk to it, not just around the edges but also stitched across ways where the silk looked weak. (this was after some advice from a local National Trust property) Since then the bell pull has been up on the wall again (not in the sun at all, as this can cause fabric to rot) and there has been no further deterioration. Merry

Thank you Merry - I can see how that would indeed strengthen it. Do you know if she chanced it with a sewing machine or by hand? Snowdrops

You may find that your local museum or archives may have advice about this. nell ps I had a great-aunt who was killed by a runaway horse and cart in 1900 when she was 11. Nothing new about road accidents. nell

By hand because she didn't want her sewing machine to catch and tear the fabric! Merry

Nell, that's a great idea thank you. It's the crease going through the middle which worries me as much as the delicacy of the material. One wrong move and it'll be gone. It's been enlightening actually, we were always told the little girl's name was Annie - it turns out to be Joan!! More proof, if it were needed, you can't always believe what you're told!! Snowdrops

Gosh she must have been very patient with a great eye for detail. To be truthful, I'm scared to death of the thing at the moment and I'm half wishing it had never been found. OH's Grandma is 94 years old and this treasure fell out of a book in her attic today. Goodness only knows what we'll find up there when we have to sort it out. Thank you both for your responses - it has given us food for thought. Snowdrops

hiya snowdrops, when i did my beginners course in family history, we had a trip to nottm archives, where we watched them preserving/repairing, papers/books allsorts, we were told that if we came across something that we needed to preserve/repair that they could do it for us, hope this helps julie