Expert: Sara Tro - 6/9/2009

Question
hello, thank you for looking at my question I hope you can give me some advice. I was at a thrift store last week and bought a really interesting asian art print. I am very pleased with my find [5 dollars] but at the bottom of the print on each corner it looks to me like some water damage has occured leaving a tea stain look. I am afraid to touch it without proper advice. it is printrd on chinese cotton mesh paper. any advice on removing this stain would be greatly appreciated. thank you again, Laura

Answer
HI Laura,
Sorry for my late reply.. I'm on vacation :)

So, cleaning a water stain can be difficult or easy, depending on the medium used to make the print, and the quality of the paper.  Most of the cleaning treatments require soaking, and so if the paper is handmade, and from a foreign country, it could very well fall apart in water due to a lack of sizing.  I would probably take the piece to a professional restorer to ask about the quality, and if it can be cleaned, decide whether it's worth it to you to pay for it.  You could also cut the water stained part off the piece, but don't do that before getting the piece assessed by a pro.

Best of luck!
Sara