Learn how a tastevin is treated and prepared for storage
the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, a painting of a group of medieval men around a silver wine tasting cup
The tastevin (owned by the Alcorso family NS3483/1/) came from Community Archives to Conservation for custom storage.
The cup is silver with a red and yellow braided ribbon attached to it and it was showing signs of tarnishing.
Gaynor Tollard (Conservation Technician) treated the cup before fabricating a special storage box.
Dust was cleaned from the cup using a very soft brush, then it was washed in deionised water and pure soap and thoroughly rinsed.
The ribbons were protected during washing. The cup was then dried with a soft cloth and polished with a silver cloth. The ribbon was gently ironed.
The cup was then wrapped in Intercept film which was heat-sealed on three edges and taped on the fourth.
Custom storage was made by making a support cylinder for the ribbon from archival paper; a foam core and Etha foam base which fitted inside a custom-made archival corrugated board box with lid.