Any way to fix/restore masks?

I just realized I should have asked what is the best place to post this question.

Welcome, and no worries - I shifted your post to another section likely to get some looks/answers for your question.

Thank you!

bmiller said:

I wasn't expecting this to be such an interesting group!
Anyway, I joined to ask how or if it's even possible to restore the shape of these old gauze masks before I try to sell them on eBay.

Click to expand...

The aged masks look creepy!

Maybe a very gentle steam would do it? I often get wrinkles out of fabric by hanging them in the bathroom and running the shower on hot. The steam from the hot water will relax out a lot of wrinkles and is very gentle. I have never tried it with fabric this old though, so be careful! Let them dry, then us spray starch to hold the new, relaxed shape in place? I would just waft the starch at them from far away to start. I have never tried this though, so again be careful.

I have a steamer I could try on one of the worst ones - carefully, as you said! Your comments remind me of the time I was attending a conference at an IBM facility in NY state. We had small rooms right at the facility with our own bathrooms. To prepare for the next day, I hung my clothes in the bathroom and turned on the hot shower. It wasn't long before it triggered the smoke alarm and they evacuated the whole place - we couldn't go back in until the fire department cleared every room.

bmiller said:

I wasn't expecting this to be such an interesting group!
Anyway, I joined to ask how or if it's even possible to restore the shape of these old gauze masks before I try to sell them on eBay.

Click to expand...

I wonder if you might get some additional answers from posting the same question in a forum that deals with vintage/antique clothing and fabric. I just don't know of any off hand.

They weren't originally soft were they?
I think they were shapped to a face , almost starched?
If that was the case you may need some foam or manikin heads to help reshape.
Out the 50's or late 40's ? I remember seeing pictures of my parents halloween parties.
Jerseyscare

Be careful about applying steam directly to the fabric. It may cause the colors to bleed.

Jerseyscare said:

They weren't originally soft were they?
I think they were shapped to a face , almost starched?
If that was the case you may need some foam or manikin heads to help reshape.
Out the 50's or late 40's ? I remember seeing pictures of my parents halloween parties.
Jerseyscare

Click to expand...

I'd really love to see how they look if OP is able to safely get the fabric to relax. Late 40's-50's era? Amazing!