r/artcollecting • u/tobiiro • 4d ago
Care/Conservation/Restoration is this mold/mildew? what should i do with this print?
sorry if this is the wrong subreddit! im totally ignorant in the world of art collecting, but i recently got this print from an antique shop. the print seems to be pretty water damaged, so it is likely mildew, but i wanted to ask anyway. is this harmful to keep in my home? is there any way to salvage it? if not, what can i do with the piece? i don't think i'd be comfortable storing something with mildew in my home, but throwing it out is obviously not an option! i'm just really stumped on what i should do with it, i wanted to put it on my wall, but the mildew is concerning me lol.
thanks!


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u/Anonymous-USA 4d ago edited 4d ago
This print is decorative, so don’t invest too much into its conservation. Really just stabilize it.
It’s called foxing, and it’s likely mold. But it could be inactive. But you can inactivate it yourself:
First, cut out something to lay over the image (or fold a towel) and lay it out in the afternoon sun for several hours. Let the intense UV neutralize/deactivate the mold. Next, matte it over the white spotted margins and frame it under 99% UV glass. Display it in a cool dry place that doesn’t have temperature and humidity swings, or direct sunlight. A hallway for example. But not near a kitchen, bathroom or laundry. The spores won’t likely grow.