Antique christening gown

[gano]

After a death in the family, I've become the custodian of our family christening gown, which was made in the late 1800s.
It's made from white cotton and has broderie anglaise detailing. Although it's it's very good condition, it's unfortunately discoloured. I suspect from tobacco smoke. Does anyone have any recommendations on how I might clean it? I'm considering hand washing, but I'm not sure if it'll remove the nicotine stains. Alternatively, do you think a good quality dry cleaners would be a better bet?

No idea about properly antique fabric, but I've cleaned a very old wedding dress in a bath of lukewarm water with a tiny bit of napisan dissolved in it. Poke it a bit then leave to soak, swish gently some more and change water. I was amazed how much of the old staining came out, with multiple water changes. Then dried flat on a table covered with a clean white sheet.

Oxyclean or similar would work as well.

There was an episode of the Repair Shop recently (last week?) where they restored a badly nicotine stained vintage lace dress, although not as old as yours.

If I remember correctly she soaked it in a shallow bath of lukewarm water, kept on changing the water but I don't think she used any detergent at all. I might be wrong about that though.

It should be this episode:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0027nzv

Edited cos I originally said she swished it around in the water but I think she was actually very careful to move it as little as possible.

Given dry cleaners propensity to ruin even everyday normal clothes I wouldn't dream of taking something like this to them. If it has been kept stored in a cupboard or something it seems unlikely to be tobacco stains.