Cheryl,

It all depends on ultimately how you intend to preserve or exhibit these
bottles. Is the preservation of the fluid an important goal? Do you want to
sample the fluid and have it analyzed? Do you want to remove the fluid and
clean the bottles?

I would recommend defining these issues first - the NPS Conservators at the
Harpers Ferry Center can certainly guide you in all the options and should
be the ones to help you when you are ready to take a course of action with
these artifacts.

Cheers!
Dave

David Harvey
Senior Conservator
Los Angeles, CA

On Tue, Jul 14, 2009 at 7:30 AM, Cheryl Branyan <[log in to unmask]
> wrote:

> Hello all.
> We are cataloging a large collection of antique bottles found in the attic
> of an antebellum mansion this summer.  We have found that some of the
> bottles still contain liquid.  The bottles appear to be liquor or wine
> bottles and are at least 100 years old.  Most still have their seals, but
> have evaporated to less than half full.  Has anyone tackled this problem
> before?  Please contact me to let me know how you handled it or if you have
> any advice or suggestions.  Thanks --Cheryl
>
> Cheryl Munyer
> Curator
> Natchez National Historical Park
> 640 S. Canal Street   Suite E
> Natchez, MS 39120
> 601-445-5395
> Cell Phone:  601-870-8011
> fax: 601-445-5399
> [log in to unmask]
>
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