Older or shabotaged?

There were some really dirty spots other than the brown streaks all over.

Wiping one off with 409 revealed fairly white underneath.

Do you think this was just years of wiping by an old lady with poor eyesight or intentional distressing?

Apparently 'S. Mazino' is San Marino.

 

kind of looks intentional to me

 

Does the back have the same grime?
50-50 ammonia and water will cut cigarette grime and dust. You could test a small spot and see if it makes the dirt come off easily. If so then grime.
If not then intentional.

 

I'm currently out of ammonia. 409 is making slow progress without removing the painting. The back had the same grime with identical random streaking.

 

Well, after a lot of work I now have an unsalable tourist piece that's clean on one side.

This plate hung in the same house and is so bright I doubted its age.

 

I'd guess second half 20th century on the second one, but exactly when ...good question. Italian as all heck, but the portrait in the center doesn't have any age on it. It wants to be a 19th century copy of a 16th century piece, but it looks more Homegoods than Grand Tour to me.

 

I thought this looked spurious

 

Hi Terry,
I use straight alcohol to remove nicotine from glass and mirrors.
greg

 

Alcohol didn't touch it. Lighter fluid did nothing. The 409 was working for most but not all. I used vinegar for the rest. Was contemplating muriatic.

 

Hi,
Well, it must have been some sort of "antiquing" glaze to give some age.
greg

 

Aldo Plate January 18th, 1940?