How do I get rid of Roumanian Roadrunner Rot

claireshaeffer

claireshaeffer

VFG Member
I have a jet beaded rope with Roumanian Roadrunner Rot (RRR). If you are not familiar with this disease, it is anything yucky.

I bought the belt several years ago at the Santa Monica Antique show so I know it didn't always have it. It looks like mold.

How do I get rid of it?
Claire:help:
 
Carrie,
I think the beads are jet since they are faceted, but they could be glass. The RRR is on the beads.

It is grey and looks like mold which is strange since I live in the desert. C
 
Honestly, I get some sort of spot mold on stuff frequently. I have successfully bleach-wiped hats of all materials....a big splash to about a half/full gallon wiped across the surface with a clean towel, then wiped again with clean water and a new towel, and then allowed to dry for a day before putting back on display.
I live in an area with plentiful humidity in the summer, you just can't avoid it. Stuff soaks up bodily "essences", and sometimes the creeping crud finds it.
 
If they're glass, Jenn's swipe with bleach technique sounds hopeful.

But if they're genuine jet, you'll want to proceed with extreme caution... I don't think you'd want to use anything stronger than a water-dampened cloth in that case!

Hopefully they're glass ("French Jet" is black glass, often faceted or molded to resemble carved jet--it made its appearance in the late Victorian period, I think, as a less expensive alternative during the jet jewelry fad...)

Can you post a pic of the piece?
 
If they look like jet and are faceted, I'm thinking they might be anthracite. Do you know how old it is? Anthracite beads were common in Victorian and Edwardian times, up to the '20s I think.

No help on cleaning, sadly, but I think they're fairly tough.

Nicole
 
Claire -

Do you have a photo? It's not likely that your rope or belt is actually "Jet" which is a natural material from Whitby. It's quite rare. I am fairly sure that most "jet" is actually glass and is called French Jet. Cleaning depends on what the beads are strung on. If they are on wire, white vinegar would work. If they are on string, you do not want to get the string wet - or very wet. You might be able to wipe the beads off with a damp cloth, then dry or try a mild soapy solution and then dry them. I have received jewelry with very severe verdigris (aka the "greenies") and have had to soak the pieces - but again you do not want to soak string.

Ketchup works on veridgris, too, but it is so messy! I'm not sure about killing mold in the freezer. I haev trouble with mold and mildew on leather, here.

Linn
 
They probably have glass disease - its from low quality glass that breaks down over time - they give off a powdery substance that looks almost like mold but its not. You can't get mold on glass - it needs something organic to feed from. I also doubt they are real jet - that is rarely used for small beads - more for brooches etc. The cheap Czech glass beads of the 1920s often get glass disease - while the more expensive Italian glass don't -- its something to do with the process. The bottom line is there is nothing you can do - its a deterioration. I think you can make it look better by using oil on them, but it doesn't actually stop the problem and in fact may even speed up the deterioration.
 
I brushed the rope with a tooth brush and water and the beads look clean again. Then I put it in the freezer. I'll take it out tomorrow and report next week whether the RRR has grown back. C
 
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