From: "Ken Berman" <dramatontheater-AT-hotmail.com>
Subject: PUPT: Latex Decay
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2003 18:56:33 +0000


I researched quite a bit about conservation of my latest puppets.  My concern was preventing the silk costumes and neoprene heads and hands form decaying.  I contacted several archivists, museums, and conservation groups.  The answer for best conservation of these materiasl, which will eventually corrode of their own accord anyway, is simply keeping them in an acid-free cardboard box.  The acid-free cardboard is non-corrosive, does not contain plasticizers, will prevent moisture, etc.  Keeping them in plastic bins, boxes and bags is actually destructive, as the plastic products give off plasticizers which will corrode both the neoprene and the silk. I was told the bugs, moths, etc. cna be prevented merely by keeping the acid-free cardboard box (with no liner) in a dry, cool place with the lid on tight.  

There is alot to be learned from speaking to conservation specialists, and there are a lot of doll-conservationist groups that one can find online.  

The acid-free boxes are fairly expensive.



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