Would you park your 1923 Duesenberg on the street instead of in your garage, or take your new Aston Martin to an automated car wash? I hope not. Selected treasures, both old and new, demand attention, no matter what they are.
Cleaning and maintaining a wooden globe, whether it’s an authentic antique or a vintage replica, requires diligence and knowledge. You may think that you don’t need to be as careful with a reproduction as with a 16th or 17th century original, but this is not necessarily the case. High-quality wooden balloon replicas and balloon sticks are usually made by skilled craftsmen who have been using many of the same methods and materials for thousands of years, so proper maintenance is important.
How to clean your old wooden globe
Inspect your balloon before cleaning and proceed only if there is no damage or weak spots.
To remove dust, wipe the surface gently with a soft, dry cloth. Do not use spray or furniture polish. If you notice areas that are beginning to peel, repair them. The fabric can catch one of these areas and make things worse.
If your antique needs more than a little dusting, here are my easy-to-follow 2-step instructions on how to clean it: 1) Don’t 2) Find an experienced and reputable conservator to clean and/or restore it.
The web has many tips on how to clean antiques written by people who claim to be specialists. Unfortunately, many people ruin their precious treasures by following his advice. Improper cleaning can destroy the map on an old globe, so make sure the “specialists” you consult really know what they’re doing.
Professional conservators can do quite a bit. They can touch it up and stabilize it and repair the shell. If the map has missing or damaged pieces, they can often be replaced with printed reproductions that are stained to match the rest. Sometimes preservatives can even reduce or even reverse discoloration and yellowing.
How to Clean Your Vintage World Globe Replica
High-quality vintage-style replica globes should be cleaned with the same care as authentic antiques, because your wooden globe map was most likely made in a similar way. This consists of using printed pieces of paper called paper gores, adhering them to the shell and then varnishing them.
Inspect your balloon before cleaning it. To remove dust, gently wipe the surface with a soft, dry cloth. If you see peeling or weak spots, have it repaired first; the fabric can get caught in one of these areas and increase the damage.
If dusting isn’t enough, wipe the surface of the globe with a soft, dry cloth. Work in small sections, cleaning (do not rub) loose dirt. For heavy stains, try dampening a soft cloth with plain water, but be very careful. Please read the section below, because sometimes some dirt or stains are preferable to a damaged balloon.
Wring out the cloth very well or spray water on the cloth (never on the balloon). Varnish strength has come a long way over the centuries, but that doesn’t mean your balloon is completely sealed and waterproof. Excess moisture left on the surface can be absorbed by the map, so do not allow water to sit on the surface. Dry the area immediately with a clean, soft cloth.
If this still isn’t enough, you can take the risk of mixing the water with some mild soap or detergent and repeating the steps above. Cleaning without causing damage depends on how careful you are, what potentially harmful materials are in the detergent, and how well your replica balloon or bar balloon replica has been made. Never use hard or abrasive materials or solutions containing alcohol or solvents.
Tips on care
o Keep your balloon out of direct sunlight. Prolonged exposure can fade the colors and print of the map, as well as darken and yellow the varnish applied to the edges of the paper.
o Do not use abrasive or strong detergents, as well as solutions with alcohol or solvents, while cleaning your balloon. Avoid even using water if a gentle wipe with a soft, dry cloth suffices.
o If any section of your balloon begins to peel or has already peeled, or if you see any weak spots or damage on the surface of the shell, take it to a professional conservator right away.
o Keep your globe, especially an antique, in an environment where the temperature and relative humidity don’t fluctuate much. Many materials used to make antique globes and replicas are sensitive to climate changes.
Proper care is obviously essential to preserving the condition of an antique. However, careful maintenance of an antique replica can help ensure that a globe made in the 21st century will survive and become an antique in the next.