Hanging antique Kimono- How?
February 2, 2006 10:15 PM Subscribe
How do I hang a 40 year-old silk kimono on a wall without damaging it?
My mom recently entrusted us with a kimono given to my grandfather for representing the proprietors of the San Francisco Tea Garden after the Japanese internment during WWII. I guess my mom likes us a lot because this kimono is beautiful and irreplaceable. We hung it on the wall with a dowel and put a shelf underneath (where the bottom hem falls) to protect it 1) from stress and 2) from our kitten.
This afternoon it looks as though there are several new small tears near the center (waist height) of the kimono, which we can only assume come from the stress the fabric is putting on itself.
Barring going to a professional art-mounter, can anyone tell us who we should talk to about how to display the kimono without destroying it? Or even how we can find out who to talk to? I tried google but it was stupid.
My mom recently entrusted us with a kimono given to my grandfather for representing the proprietors of the San Francisco Tea Garden after the Japanese internment during WWII. I guess my mom likes us a lot because this kimono is beautiful and irreplaceable. We hung it on the wall with a dowel and put a shelf underneath (where the bottom hem falls) to protect it 1) from stress and 2) from our kitten.
This afternoon it looks as though there are several new small tears near the center (waist height) of the kimono, which we can only assume come from the stress the fabric is putting on itself.
Barring going to a professional art-mounter, can anyone tell us who we should talk to about how to display the kimono without destroying it? Or even how we can find out who to talk to? I tried google but it was stupid.
Response by poster: rob511: Right that's how we originally hung the thing, but it was putting too much stress on the fabric.
posted by Jeff_Larson at 11:11 PM on February 2, 2006
posted by Jeff_Larson at 11:11 PM on February 2, 2006
Might be costy, but what about sandwiching it between two pieces of glass, or a wooden/pressboard/other backing, covered with a nice background cloth or mat board? I've seen picture frames where a front sheet of glass is clipped onto a backing, and something similar to that (though on a much bigger scale) would solve the weight issues.
posted by cmyk at 11:26 PM on February 2, 2006
posted by cmyk at 11:26 PM on February 2, 2006
Only problem then would be the weight. I can't imagine a big sheet of glass + a backing that can withstand the weight of the sheet of glass + the matting on the back would be easy to hang. So... hmm. Maybe find the studs in the wall, hang it from hooks in the back, and bolster the weight with extra support on the bottom?
Or, just turn the whole thing into a freestanding objet d'art and rig it up in a frame with feet, same as a freestanding full-length mirror. (Bonus if you can reuse a nice old mirror frame.)
Re: something to put behind the kimono, go with acid-free archival mat board, which is found in giganstrous sheets at framing and art shops.
... now I want an old kimono to show off.
posted by cmyk at 12:50 AM on February 3, 2006
Or, just turn the whole thing into a freestanding objet d'art and rig it up in a frame with feet, same as a freestanding full-length mirror. (Bonus if you can reuse a nice old mirror frame.)
Re: something to put behind the kimono, go with acid-free archival mat board, which is found in giganstrous sheets at framing and art shops.
... now I want an old kimono to show off.
posted by cmyk at 12:50 AM on February 3, 2006
Fortunately, you have pro's on ask.me.
The first thing you need to understand is that by putting it out on display you are damaging it. No exceptions. Your best bet is building a semi-stiff form for the inside, covering it with a bleach-free muslin, and then hang the kimono at an angle (5 degrees will probably help a lot). You should also sew the kimono onto that board in a few, appropriate places - which will probably require a pro seing it. My email is in the profile if you need any more, specific advice.
posted by jmgorman at 6:49 AM on February 3, 2006
The first thing you need to understand is that by putting it out on display you are damaging it. No exceptions. Your best bet is building a semi-stiff form for the inside, covering it with a bleach-free muslin, and then hang the kimono at an angle (5 degrees will probably help a lot). You should also sew the kimono onto that board in a few, appropriate places - which will probably require a pro seing it. My email is in the profile if you need any more, specific advice.
posted by jmgorman at 6:49 AM on February 3, 2006
A useful starting point might be to have a read through the following Guidelines for the Care of Textiles.
I'd recommend not allowing any part of it to be in direct contact with untreated wood due to the risk from organic acids, and use padding as much as reasonably possible to eliminate strain. Finally, common sense precautions like don't hang it near a source of heat such as a radiator, as the temperature (and thus humidity) cycling will put undue stress on the materials.
And lastly, make sure it's clean - bodily residues (delightful) can wreak havoc on textiles in the long term and provide food for pests.
Basically, if it means that much to you, take it to a textile conservator. If you do choose to do that, read the "when to consult a conservator" section in the above link for help obtaining a list of qualified people.
posted by BishopsLoveScifi at 8:20 AM on February 3, 2006
I'd recommend not allowing any part of it to be in direct contact with untreated wood due to the risk from organic acids, and use padding as much as reasonably possible to eliminate strain. Finally, common sense precautions like don't hang it near a source of heat such as a radiator, as the temperature (and thus humidity) cycling will put undue stress on the materials.
And lastly, make sure it's clean - bodily residues (delightful) can wreak havoc on textiles in the long term and provide food for pests.
Basically, if it means that much to you, take it to a textile conservator. If you do choose to do that, read the "when to consult a conservator" section in the above link for help obtaining a list of qualified people.
posted by BishopsLoveScifi at 8:20 AM on February 3, 2006
As a person going to school to be a textile historian, I would try to talk you out of displaying such an irreplaceable textile. Textiles are incredibly perishable and displaying them shortens their lives. If I had a kimono like this, I
would consider donating it to a museum where it could be stored in the ideal climate, humidity and conditions. Yeah, I know that's not the answer you wanted to hear....
If you are convinced that you want to display this kimono, I recommend hanging it in a place that doesn't get a lot of light (sunlight or artificial). Light is one of the most damaging elements to an antique textile.
I think you could still hang it on a wooden beam, but first, coat the beam with a couple of layers of polyeurethane to seal it. Then, cover the wood with a bunch of polyester batting and sew unbleached muslin cover over it. You don't want the wood to touch your textile at all, as it is notorious for off-gassing...which will not only cause the fabric to deteriorate, but can cause discoloration.
You do NOT want anything that is wooden, metal or plastic to touch your kimono. I'd also recommend when you handle it, if it is fragile, either wash your hands really well or wear white cotton gloves. Handle the kimono as little as possible.
A lot of old silk starts to shatter because of a lead additive that used to be added to silk to give it a crisp texture. There's unfortunately nothing you can do about this, but you can stabilize the damaged areas by sewing a bit of cotton gauze to the underside with silk thread.
Never, ever take an antique silk textile to the dry cleaners....it will pretty much disintegrate.
When and if you decide to contact a textile conservator, you should consider contacting one of the colleges that offer degrees in textile conservation. Some of these colleges provide textile conservation services for a fee.
posted by tinaguppie at 10:41 AM on February 3, 2006
would consider donating it to a museum where it could be stored in the ideal climate, humidity and conditions. Yeah, I know that's not the answer you wanted to hear....
If you are convinced that you want to display this kimono, I recommend hanging it in a place that doesn't get a lot of light (sunlight or artificial). Light is one of the most damaging elements to an antique textile.
I think you could still hang it on a wooden beam, but first, coat the beam with a couple of layers of polyeurethane to seal it. Then, cover the wood with a bunch of polyester batting and sew unbleached muslin cover over it. You don't want the wood to touch your textile at all, as it is notorious for off-gassing...which will not only cause the fabric to deteriorate, but can cause discoloration.
You do NOT want anything that is wooden, metal or plastic to touch your kimono. I'd also recommend when you handle it, if it is fragile, either wash your hands really well or wear white cotton gloves. Handle the kimono as little as possible.
A lot of old silk starts to shatter because of a lead additive that used to be added to silk to give it a crisp texture. There's unfortunately nothing you can do about this, but you can stabilize the damaged areas by sewing a bit of cotton gauze to the underside with silk thread.
Never, ever take an antique silk textile to the dry cleaners....it will pretty much disintegrate.
When and if you decide to contact a textile conservator, you should consider contacting one of the colleges that offer degrees in textile conservation. Some of these colleges provide textile conservation services for a fee.
posted by tinaguppie at 10:41 AM on February 3, 2006
Could you be satisfied not displaying the entire, full-length kimono?
I'm thinking that after consulting an expert, you might just decide the thing is too fragile. If so, how about folding it (in a safe manner) and nestling it in an attractive box. You could have a glass or plexi lid, or even a non-transparent lid that's easy to open when you want to admire the fabric.
posted by wryly at 11:26 AM on February 3, 2006
I'm thinking that after consulting an expert, you might just decide the thing is too fragile. If so, how about folding it (in a safe manner) and nestling it in an attractive box. You could have a glass or plexi lid, or even a non-transparent lid that's easy to open when you want to admire the fabric.
posted by wryly at 11:26 AM on February 3, 2006
If you do go the wood route, make sure the poly-coating is water-based and at least 3 layers thick.
posted by jmgorman at 11:50 AM on February 3, 2006
posted by jmgorman at 11:50 AM on February 3, 2006
Those of you w/experience, please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't folding a big no-no in fabric preservation?
posted by desuetude at 1:06 PM on February 3, 2006
posted by desuetude at 1:06 PM on February 3, 2006
There are a lot of situations when it's necessary to fold a large textile, quilts and kimonos are prime examples. The key is to fold the item, but avoid creating a sharp crease. You should also make thick rolls of archival, acid free tissue and place them where the fabric is bent. Then, periodically, you will need to take the garment out of it's box and refold it along different fold lines. You can get big archival boxes that will hold a kimono folded in half or thirds with the sleeves tucked inside of it.
That said, I kind of like the idea of displaying the kimono in some kind of box with maybe an angled, fabric covered foam-core platform underneath it.
posted by tinaguppie at 2:33 PM on February 3, 2006
That said, I kind of like the idea of displaying the kimono in some kind of box with maybe an angled, fabric covered foam-core platform underneath it.
posted by tinaguppie at 2:33 PM on February 3, 2006
« Older What is particularly not sticky to scotch tape?... | What does 4-40 mean when I'm looking to buy some... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by rob511 at 11:01 PM on February 2, 2006