Puzzled with feathers and fur?

[Drygoods]

Good Day All,

While moving many bonnets from one place to another, I came across a quilted bonnet that I had made only two years ago that had a small, down feather boa circling the front of the face. This bonnet had never been worn to my knowledge, yet I had quite a shock when I picked it up, almost all the down fell off in a swirl! It was like watching a snow globe having been shaken right in front of me, feathers floated everywhere.
Other caps and bonnets trimmed with fur, seem fine in comparison. I have several old pieces of fur kept in a cork box, which made me wonder if cork was a natural protective barrier to keep fur or feathers mite free.
Needless to say, I tore the down off the bonnet without hesitation, and likely will leave the bonnet plain, but I'd like to hear any advice or opinion as to what caused the damage. Could temperature had played a part? I kept that storage area rather cold, without direct sunlight or heating, and decent air circulation.
My only other observation is, moving stinks, what a nuisance it is to pack all your period belongings as nobody but yourself treats them with respect.:p

[Spinster]

Re: Puzzled with feathers and fur?

Could temperature had played a part?

Yes.

Heat definitely plays a part. And you don't know how the feathers were stored before you bought them.

[Matthew Semple]

Re: Puzzled with feathers and fur?

Ms. Peebles,

Did the feathers come off at their quills or did they disintegrate throughout the feather portion? This information will help greatly in determining if it was temperature, mites, a finishing that had been put on the down, etc.

Additionally, I have never had any issues with storing feathers in cork lined boxes or in boxes that had a corks in them.

Previously, about 20 years ago, I had come across a magazine article from the 1910's at my grandmother's shop attic that said cork was a natural deterent to mites...Whether this knowledge was known back in the 1860's or earlier I have not been able to find that documentation as of yet.

I did receive from my grandmother a women's hat box made from pasted board, wallpaper pasted outward, and a cork lining with a manufacture date of 1914 in it (alas, no hat/bonnet with feathers on the iside; however, my grandmother said that her mother had at one time stored a bonnet with feathers in it). After much, much, much begging from my mother I reluctantly gave her the hatbox that her grandmother (my great grandmother) had owned and my mother has since lost it. Otherwise, I could post pictures. (I have been asking my mother to find it for the past eight years, to no avail.)

I don't know if the information I have provided helps. If the later documentation and family knowledge does not fit the forum, moderators please remove.

[Drygoods]

Re: Puzzled with feathers and fur?

Well, this is good news indeed. First off, this means that perhaps I shouldn't sell away that cork lined bonnet box that was so soon to leave next week. It could be that the reason the other stuff is fine is because of that cork. Thank you Sir, for that information from your G'grandmother.:D

Heat didn't have any relation here, Mrs. Lawson, the hottest we get in summer is in the low 60 degrees, not what I'd consider hot by any means.

The flurry of feathers came away from the spines, as though tiny splinters of white just blew into the air. A few colored feathers on the bonnet were fine, just the downy fluffies flew apart. It sure was a sight, and sad to see.:( On the bright side, if there is one, the watered silk moire has no ill effects and looks quite fresh as the day it was sewn. ) Still, I doubt that any feathers will replace the one lost.

[Mutt]

Re: Puzzled with feathers and fur?

Hello all,

I did a quick Google search on "feather deterioration" and came up with the following link, which I found is probably the most helpful in terms of understanding feathers and what might cause their deterioration. http://http://www.mnhs.org/preserve/conservation/connectingmn/docs_pdfs/repurposedbook-quills_000.pdf

Hope this helps some! The topic made me curious as well! If I remember I'll bug our objects and textile conservators at the museum I work at and get back to you. :)

PS - my best guess is, as with many cases of things falling apart, BUGS. :-\

Best Regards,