Addressing moldy matte on old print

[36cm2]

I recently salvaged a landscape print of an artist I admire from a local auction. The print is in excellent condition, but the matte has humidity staining and mold damage. Perhaps it could be cleaned, but I'm likely not up to it. Does anyone know of my alternatives without visiting a professional restorer? I would like to retain the signature on the matte and a verso stamp, so I'm thinking that stabilizing the old matte and partially rematting is the most viable solution, but in all honesty I'm not well-versed in this stuff. I can certainly matte myself and have all the equipment, I just don't know how to address the old. If people have cleaning alternatives, I'm open ears on that as well. Many thanks for any help.

All the best,
Leo

 

[Gerald C Koch]

See if you can get a bag of DiGas or SunPac mildewcide. This is paraformaldehyde a solid form of formaldehyde gas. Place the matte in a large plastic bag along with the DiGas, seal it and allow it to stand for a few days. This will kill all the mold/mildew spores which might continue to cause problems. The print itself should also be treated separately. As far as "foxing" of the matte is concerned that really is a problem for a restorer who can remove the stains.

https://search.yahoo.com/search;_yl...ildewcyde&fr2=sb-top-search&fr=yfp-t-901&fp=1

 

[36cm2]

Thanks, Gerald. That's very helpful.

I wonder if anyone has used something as simple as Absorene to remove foxing. Am I crazy to think that will make a difference with light mold damage?

 

[M Carter]

This lady is a dear dear friend of mine - hit her up for a quote if you decide to go pro. She's an expert (does contract work for the Dallas Museum of Art) and is a very good egg. Tell her I referred you, may be reasonable to deal with - never hurts to ask. She's done some amazing work on stuff that's hundreds of years old and has all the filtered-vacuum tables and crazy stuff like that. I've seen what she does and it's crazy-impressive work.

Tish Brewer

http://www.centerforartconservation.com

 

[Patrick Robert James]

OR you can pay the artist to rematt it if he is still alive. Probably be cheaper too.....

 

[removed account4]

northeast document concervation center might be able to point you in the right direction too

 

[36cm2]

Thanks everyone. Absorene helped clean up the matte, but there are purplish stains that persist. I'm going to see if the artist will remat it.