Reasons not to bronze baby shoes

[sockknitter]

This thread might not belong in the Ladies' Tea section but I am in a bit of a time bind. My mother just tonight told me she wants to get my father's baby shoes bronzed for his birthday next week, and she wants help in finding a bronzing service.

Somehow I hate to get the little leather, 1920 shoes bronzed. They're a little torn up but completely recognizable as to style and size.

Is anybody out there knowledgeable of museum item care, etc., and able to give me reasons to give her not to surrender the shoes to bronzing? Don't those bronzing services actually obliterate the shoes somehow anyway? I know I might be sticking my nose into where it doesn't belong, but on the other hand if she's planning to surprise my father, maybe he wouldn't want HIS shoes bronzed either. I don't know his opinion actually. Ideas?

[ole]

Sockknitter:

You do have a quandary there, don't you? I'm guessing, after so many years of connubial bliss, your father can take anything your mother can dish out. My shoes went through two sibs and were discarded. But if I had the shoes, I can't imagine what precious lamb could do to desecrate them any more than they have been. (I do have my 1944 sailor suit as a sacred icon.)

Let your mother be eccentric. Your father would expect nothing less.

Just a thought.
Ole

[gary]

Coat the shoes with Rennaisance Wax and that will protect them. Temperature and humidity control and keep it away from light (damages leather) and insects (eats leather). The Rennaisance Wax, developed by the British Museum and is PH neutral, may be purchased from Woodcraft stores (check the net).

[sockknitter]

Thank you, ole and gary. Interesting replies. Now I'm looking into Renaissance wax and have obtained the idea of finding some kind of dome like people keep their wedding cake toppers in. Also upon rereading my mother's email I saw that she mentioned bronzing the shoes for Christmas, so there is more time. Never fear. This will not develop into a gargantuan family feud no matter what happens to the shoes. Again, thank you very much.

By the way, Renaissance Wax claims it's used to preserve valuable archival photos as well as metal, leather and wood. It's an 80% petroleum product, I believe, so that's surprising.

[samgrant]

Isn't just about everything 80% petroleum these days?

[gary]

BTW, museums worldwide use Rennaisance Wax and an object conservator was the one who told me about it.