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Q&As since 1989


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Ceiling restoration cleaning

I'm renovating my c.1900 apartment and need advice on cleaning an antique watercolor painted ceiling. The ceiling is the sort of bordered floral pattern in pinks that could be called rococo. It's on plaster. It's cracked and dirty, but we are happy leaving the cracks. I really just want to clean the generations of grime from its surface. The watercolor paint is very sensitive and in a couple of spots I can see that prior owners have tried water to clean it with the unfortunate result of wiping the painting completely away. I think that I will need to dry clean it, but not sure how. I found one discussion of kneaded erasers online. What's this? Is it the way to go, or is there something better?

Thanks in advance.

Joshua Teas
architect - Oslo, Norway
2004

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Dear Joshua!

Try to find professional conservator! Contact Nordisk Konservatorenvorbond! Good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
2004