DANGEROUS DAYS

Shannon News, 20 November 1928, Page 4

DANGEROUS DAYS

These arc dangerous days for those unfortunate pictures which, in some homes, -will fall victims to the zeal of •the spring cleaner. ■ Don’t wash the faces of oil paintings. Instead, wipe the surfaces lightly with a sponge wrung out tightly, first in tepid soapy water (using only a mild tepid soap), and afterwards in clean water. Polish finally with soft silk. A slice of raw potato rubbed lightly over the surface is also a useful and safe cleaner of oil paintings. After cleaning, the picture should be placed in a mild temperature —uncovered.

Don’t attempt to remove marks from watericolours and prints. Just brush lightly, with clean feathers or silk, any dust collected under the glass, and rub with soft indiarubber any surface soils from the margin. Stains and other bleiriishes must be treated by the expert only. Don’t wash gilt frames. The slightest touch of dampness, removing the "toning’’ which protects- it, will expose the gilt itself. Therefore it is permissible only to brush lightly with a small arid soft brush, the dust from the frame and its carving. If, however; it is decided to risk the toning, uso a second brush slightly damped with water or gin. Exposed gilt may be retoned, or else thinly coated with a weak solution of size (in water). Don’t above all, attempt renovations When pictures or prints need repairing or restoring, do let the expert do the doctoring. '