Featured Need help identify wood carved poster bed

I use (play with) Adobe Photoshop A LOT!!!! More of a hobby!!!

 

few more photos.can you tell me as much as you kow about any morwe of the symbols on this bed.here is a couple more closeup photos

 

General floral motifs, which often have to do with fertility, but could be just decoration.

 

thanks, I really appreciate your time.

 

Did you get this bed at an auction in AZ?

 

no, I purchased it in new England.Why? is or was there one in Arizona similar to this one?

 

does anyone know the best and safest way to clean this before applying paste wax? I read water on a cloth is the worst idea. It can cause lifting of finish and cracking.

 

I've never had trouble with a water dampened cloth. Just don't use a water soaked and dripping cloth. And don't be too vigorous, just enough to get off the dirt. If you see any paint coming off on your cloth you're rubbing too hard. You could try cloth dampened with mineral spirits instead (it dries sooner), but that seems more likely to remove paint. Try a small hidden area with both if you want to compare.

 

Mineral spirits should clean without affecting the finish. Use with good ventilation. However, sometimes you may find spills that only water based cleaners will cut.