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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 A Curator's Viewpoint
 Whiting Ivory serving piece care and maintenance
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| Author | Topic: Whiting Ivory serving piece care and maintenance |
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paskow Posts: 6 |
posted 05-17-2000 02:38 PM
  
I recently purchased two large Whiting Ivory sterling serving pieces. Their ivory handles are showing some age with fine hairline cracks and darkening. I assume that this is due to changes in humidity and temperature over the years. How do I care for these beautiful pieces so that the ivory doesn't deteriorate any more? I bought them only as display pieces, so they won't be handled much, but want to make sure they are cared for correctly. Also, how do museums view pieces like these that are quite beautiful and highly valued to collectors, but are less than perfect? I hope to hang on to these for many years, but some day may want to donate them. IP: Logged |
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Ulysses Dietz Moderator Posts: 1265 |
posted 05-17-2000 03:00 PM
Aha, a real curatorial question! At bottom, serious collectors are probably a lot fussier about condition that museums are--as long as the condition represents honest and not abusive wear over a lifetime. Cracks in ivory handles (as opposed to large chunks missing or gaping splits in the ivory) would not be a terrible problem. Of course, seeing the pieces in person would be essential, since the overall quality and style of the piece is a major factor. A great history can balance out minor condition problems; and fabulous design and craftsmanship can also mitigate condition issues. I have seen some really incredible Whiting ivory handled servers in the last decade, and most of them show some sort of age cracking inherent in the instability of ivory over time due to humidity loss. Of course the best way to keep ivory from cracking more is to control the humidity. Even keeping them in a display cabinet creates a micro-climate around them. But don't show them in a close cabinet with electric lights inside it--that heats up and dries out the air, and can cause worse cracking. I'm not sure about any active treatment--like vegetable oil--on ivory. That would take a conservator's expertise. IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 05-17-2000 04:01 PM
To Paskow - Are you sure that the handles are real ivory? Many times what is sold as ivory is really something else, for example bone. Could you post a Photo? To Ulysses - Whether it is ivory or bone, would using Renaissance Wax help to keep the handles from drying out and cracking? IP: Logged |
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paskow Posts: 6 |
posted 05-18-2000 02:56 PM
 The pictures aren't the greatest, but that's the best I could do for now. Hope that they are good enough, at least of the handles. Wish the detail of the sterling showed better. It is quite beautiful. I found a web page last night that somewhat answers my care and maintenance questions. It is -- I think that my best solution is to find a display case to put them in that doesn't emit any sulfur and use the charcoal packet that the web site recommends. I didn't buy them to store them away. I buy things for their beauty that I can enjoy, like any work of art. IP: Logged |
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Dexter Posts: 5 |
posted 07-27-2000 12:54 PM
I collect these Whiting pieces, and have every style they made, save one. I use mine regularly when serving, and have no problems. I have passed up some pieces that were mistreated, apparently being subjected to washing. On these the ivory looked powdery. I've wondered if a gentle treatment with 4-ought steelwool impregnated with microcrystaline wax might renew the patina, but I've not tried this, yet. The handles are held into the silver ferrules with pins, and I find these are often loose, but with prudent useage, I have never had a problem. IP: Logged |
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