Help with cleaning hand painted satin

[Chris148]

My mum inherited this hand painted satin cushion from her aunt in the 1980’s. It’s been in a cupboard since then and it has now passed to me. Firstly does anyone have an idea how old this is? The cushion of inside is printed with 1818 but I doubt it’s that old And secondly any ideas how could I clean it? It has some marks on it (pictured) including a pen mark.

 

[denisebrain]

How pretty!

Are the marks mostly or all on the back? Does the cushion come out of the case?

 

[Chris148]

How pretty!

Are the marks mostly or all on the back? Does the cushion come out of the case?

They are mostly on the front, and yes the cushion comes out of the cover.

 

[Avantbo]

My mum inherited this hand painted satin cushion from her aunt in the 1980’s. It’s been in a cupboard since then and it has now passed to me. Firstly does anyone have an idea how old this is? The cushion of inside is printed with 1818 but I doubt it’s that old And secondly any ideas how could I clean it? It has some marks on it (pictured) including a pen mark.

Hello Chris,
Gosh! that is pretty.

1818, no but I am wondering if satin used started life as something else as it appears quite old. I'm also wondering if painting was applied a lot later, late 1900s..

Satin 1860-70, paint, 1890-1910.

 

[denisebrain]

Tough to advise on cleaning. I think you could try a cotton swab or similar with detergent and cool water (as you'd use to clean) and just dab this on a bit of the painting. See if it budges at all—if so, you can't clean it. If it doesn't come off on the swab, it still could crack or flake off if bent, so cleaning is iffy. Ink stains can be removed with specific ink removers depending upon the type of ink. Water-based inks can come out with laundry detergent, ballpoint and felt tip marks sometimes respond to isopropyl alcohol alone, which you can apply to the mark with a cotton swab. I also use Carbona's Stain Devils #3, made for ink marks (not sure if that's available to you).

The problem with all of these is that any liquid will leave a ring mark on your satin. There is a way to soften those ring marks—if you think you'd like to try spot cleaning, I'd be happy to tell you more.

 

[Chris148]

Tough to advise on cleaning. I think you could try a cotton swab or similar with detergent and cool water (as you'd use to clean) and just dab this on a bit of the painting. See if it budges at all—if so, you can't clean it. If it doesn't come off on the swab, it still could crack or flake off if bent, so cleaning is iffy. Ink stains can be removed with specific ink removers depending upon the type of ink. Water-based inks can come out with laundry detergent, ballpoint and felt tip marks sometimes respond to isopropyl alcohol alone, which you can apply to the mark with a cotton swab. I also use Carbona's Stain Devils #3, made for ink marks (not sure if that's available to you).

The problem with all of these is that any liquid will leave a ring mark on your satin. There is a way to soften those ring marks—if you think you'd like to try spot cleaning, I'd be happy to tell you more.

Thanks for the advice. I will see if I can get some isopropyl alcohol or stain devil and have a go. I think if I can at least get rid of the pen mark it will be an improvement, the other marks are quite small. And if you could let me know about how to get rid of the ring marks afterwards that would be great.

 

[Avantbo]

Thanks for the advice. I will see if I can get some isopropyl alcohol or stain devil and have a go. I think if I can at least get rid of the pen mark it will be an improvement, the other marks are quite small. And if you could let me know about how to get rid of the ring marks afterwards that would be great.

And if you are going to attempt DIY, it has to be 100% isopropyl alcohol or near as dammit and if you dilute, use pure water.

And as Denise advisises, it daubing only, under no circumstances should any type of rubbing take place, daub only.

Edit

isopropyl alcohol lifts ink and paint, I know I use it to in repairing and unblocking printers.

I personally would not go anywhere near such a pretty item with chemicals, live with it if you can, the cushion is what it is, stains and all.

 

[denisebrain]

If you do try anything wet (water or isopropyl alcohol for instance) to spot clean many fabrics, you can get a ring mark. The most frustrating of stains is the one you create while trying to remove a stain! Liquid rings can sometimes be lessened by rewetting the stained area with a damp cloth. Moisten the area enough to obscure the ring. Then use a dry cloth, a blow dryer, or an iron (on the setting appropriate for the fabric) on the edges of the dampened area first. What you are doing is dissipating the edge of the ring, then quickly drying the area so that there is not a new ring.

I'm inclined to agree with Avantbo, that the process of trying to clean the pillow could make it worse.

Good luck with it, however you decide to proceed!

 

[anothertimevintageapparel]

If it was mine, i would personally not attempt any type of cleaning and leave it as is.
It is lovely and these marks would not bother me verses having it get damaged.

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

It could be Victorian, although the colors look more contemporary to me for some reason. It might even be 1970s, when fabric painting was a huge rage with home crafters, and pillows in particular were made a lot. I am leaning to 1970s on this one, but cannot tell without handling it.

What I am most curious about is the pillow inside the cover. Can you show that, and the mark on it? If it is indeed 1818 then there is your real value!

Also, is the pillow stuffed with feathers?

 

[Avantbo]

It could be Victorian, although the colors look more contemporary to me for some reason.
What I am most curious about is the pillow inside the cover. Can you show that, and the mark on it? If it is indeed 1818 then there is your real value!
Also, is the pillow stuffed with feathers?

And therein lies another concern if DIY cleaning.

The stuffing may give an indication as to age of cushion case and you may well be correct and not nearly as old as thought.

The case appears to be showing signs of fading/yellowing, this is likely to be age related however there is as good a chance the fill stuffing material is breaking down.

Any cleaning should not be done with stuffing in place regardless of cleaning solution/method used.

 

[Chris148]

It could be Victorian, although the colors look more contemporary to me for some reason. It might even be 1970s, when fabric painting was a huge rage with home crafters, and pillows in particular were made a lot. I am leaning to 1970s on this one, but cannot tell without handling it.

What I am most curious about is the pillow inside the cover. Can you show that, and the mark on it? If it is indeed 1818 then there is your real value!

Also, is the pillow stuffed with feathers?

I’ve attached a pic of the cushion pad. I haven’t opened it so don’t know what the filling is but I can feel it and it’s not feathers. It feels like tufts of wool maybe?

 

[Avantbo]

I’ve attached a pic of the cushion pad. I haven’t opened it so don’t know what the filling is but I can feel it and it’s not feathers. It feels like tufts of wool maybe?

Hi Chris,

I'll take a shot, I've marked area on your image, an impression of what may be Wool Nepps.

The 1818 stamp, I feel sure is a wool bale transport stamp, can't prove it but to me strikes as reminiscent of such things.

 

[Chris148]

Hi Chris,

I'll take a shot, I've marked area on your image, an impression of what may be Wool Nepps.

The 1818 stamp, I feel sure is a wool bale transport stamp, can't prove it but to me strikes as reminiscent of such things.

I just googled wool nepps and it does feel like it could be that. Does that date it in any way?

 

[Avantbo]

I just googled wool nepps and it does feel like it could be that. Does that date it in any way?

Hi Chris

No, I'm afraid not, as toy/cushion stuffing, 100 years or so.

The 1818 stamp is a red herring, I feel sure the materials used are remnants but they do have age, painting applied later.

I asked myself this, why would anyone in 1818 make a cushion with a big stamp on it as a date?

As I wrote, the style of stamp is indicative but not exclusive of the type used on packing material of wool bales.

The cushion, all the material is no later then late Victorian I think. The painting could be the same era but I think applied later unless a previous painted silk panel remnant used.

It is pretty but I don't think it is early 19 century, that is simply my opinion, I am not an expert.

Possibly, not all, the work of a mill worker??