I've recently acquired for collections a very large painted wooden sign that was installed for 60 years in a local bar. The sign, and the bar, are legendary.

The sign was painted by hand, and while it was sealed originally, decades of light, smoke, and environment have created a layer of what I am calling "bar deposits."

Any ideas about a gentle cleaning? I'm concerned about the use of liquids, as only the top surface was painted or sealed. I'm not trying to restore it to its original, just to clean the top layer a bit, and prevent further damage by these ethnographic deposits.

Thanks

Amber R. Clifford-Napoleone
Director, McClure Archives and Museum
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