By Vicki Schwager
thePurseMuseum.com
Kathy Gunderson asked me to share some tips on storing our precious purses. I am sure all of us are aware of archival preservation, acid free materials and that the biggest dangers to antiques in general are heat and light
My very first experience with the APCS was watching author and collector Lori Blaser unpack her purses. Each was carefully wrapped in tissue and bubble wrap. Each purse was a delightful surprise. I have been working ever since on finding a better way. That search is not finished, but I have made some progress.
The easiest, cheapest, most readily available product is 'Sheet Protectors' which are clear. They are available almost everywhere. Costco has Avery heavy weight in a pack of 250 for under $15. Office supply stores carry many sizes including some with gusset bottoms for fatter items, and others for storing photos and CD's (that may work for smaller coin purses). With these clear bags you can readily see your collection.
Be sure and get: Clear, Archival, Acid Free.
- Tip for prettier storage: cut off the binder holes
- To create a tall bag, or to contain a purse, cut off the holes, slide in your purse& sleeve another protector over the top
- Beaded purses, especially scenic beaded bags, will slip and slide. I have not tried it yet but an archival felt inside might reduce the slipping. Another possibility, if you are traveling, might be to use some small light weight clips (check dollar stores) on the outside corners of the protectors to hold the purses in place. If you are not traveling, then storage in an archival box laying flat will work just fine.
A similar product to use to replace non-archival zip bags you buy in the grocery store are Polypropylene bags. Quoted here from www.gtzip.com:
"Ultra Clear line of bags made from polypropylene are safe for archiving and conservation. Polypropylene is the most widely accepted commercial archival storage material in the United States. It is recommended by both the International Organization for Standardization ISO 10214:1991(E) Sect 4.3 and the American National Standards Institute ANSI IT9.2-1991 Sec 3.3. The polypropylene used in our Ultra Clear Bags is naturally acid free and lignin free and conform to PAT ISO standard 18916."
They come in many sizes and weights.
Another product, much lighter weight, are clear cello bags which are acid free archival quality. They are more suitable for one time use.
Both Polypropylene and Cello bags are more commercial in nature. They come in many sizes and material weights. Often they have a 'hang hole' which means a hole is punched above the zip top to hang on a store display. You can also get them with a vent hole. )
Tips:
- Check online sites like Amazon.com. There are many suppliers.
- Tissue paper has many applications. For archival storage always look for An Un-Buffered Archival Tissue that is acid free.
Have fun with your collection ...with better visibility for all!