Wooden door

This query is posted on behalf of someone who does not read the
List.  He owns a home in a small, very old town in Abruzzo, Italy.
The entrance to the house is a two-leaf paneled wood door, which
townspeople believe to be about 300 years old.  The identity of the
unfinished wood is unknown, but believed to be hardwood.  The door
leaves swing on old iron hinges, and there is no other hardware
(i.e. no lock or handles).  Although the door is very weathered and
some stiles and rails have eroded as people gripped them like
handles, the wood appears to be sound.

What recommendations do readers of the DistList have for cleaning
the door of dirt? What kind of finish would be appropriate in an
area that receives considerable amounts of snow?  The town and owner
do not want a painted finish.  All tools and materials must be
readily available in Italy or safe to transport in checked airplane
luggage. It seems highly preferable to do all work without removing
the door leaves from the very old hinges.

Christine Smith
Conservation of Art on Paper, Inc.
6044 Old Telegraph Road
Alexandria, Virginia 22310
USA
703-960-4410


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 21:47
                  Distributed: Saturday, March 8, 2008
                       Message Id: cdl-21-47-013
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