Featured Trunk

Can someone please date this for me? I know it is a Jenny Lind style. It seems most people want to scrape the paper off, but I won’t do it. I know the lock does not belong. How could I clean the outside without damaging it?

 

neat construction.............

 

It looks pretty clean. I’d say it is what it is at this point.

 

Really not a whole lot you can do. Cleaning with anything other than a duster will probably remove paper. Have seen some people lacquer these to preserve the paper but that does alter the look and originality.

 

If by 'clean' you mean that you have no intentions of altering it, like a museum conservator, use a small vacuum cleaner and cover anything you intend to vacuum with a fine fiberglass window screen -- either by placing the screen directly on and over the trunk surfaces, like where the paper would be sucked off - the screen holds it down safely, or, placing the screen over the nozzle of the vacuum (like a panty hose screen). That way there is no physical 'brushing' and you suck off the dust.

If by clean you mean restore... personally I love it the way it looks.