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Should I clean it or not

I bought a blanc-de-chine piece from a charity auction. I'm happy with it except it has not been kept well. There is a lot of dirt in the grooves. I have tried to use a damp toothbrush in one of the grooves, it was easy to remove most of the dirt, but still left with some yellowed-brownish discolor in the deep part of the groove.

It is an antique piece, I think, from the Qing dynasty.

I'm wondering should I clean it or not? I would like to clean it, because I believe if I do, it will certainly look more beautiful. But to what degree should I clean it and what is the best way?

Thanks a lot for your help!

Comments for Should I clean it or not

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Jan 08, 2012
 cleaning
by: peter

Have you tried soaking it in warm dishwashing solution for an hour or so? That shouldn't damage a porcelain item.

Patina and some dirt in fissures is acceptable to many collectors as part of an antique's history that makes an item look old.

Dirt that cannot be dislodged with a toothbrush and some dishwashing liquid may best be left alone. If your item is genuinely old, the dirt might be difficult or impossible to remove. Don't force it and don't use any strong cleaners. Residual chemical cleaners in fissures might damage items.
But, please be also aware that dirt is sometimes used to make items look antique that aren't. Depends on the situation.

Please rinse well after cleaning to remove any cleaner resdues.

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