Can I clean this

without ruining it?

Sort of a satin glass

 

What about with some Dawn liquid soap, warm tap water, and scrub with a soft toothbrush then just rinse with cool tap water? Obviously take the ribbon off before. That's how I clean all my decanters that are in my kitchen when they aquire a film of grease from cooking and dust.

 

Is this a perfume bottle or a decanter? If it is a perfume bottle I would leave it alone unless you want to just wipe off the exterior with a damp paper towel.

If it is a perfume bottle I will look around to see if I can find the maker of the perfume &/or bottle for you later on tonight.

Peggy

 

Seems to be FW Fitch company from the '20s or '30s.

I can't tell if the label is solid brass sheet or foil on paper.

 

Mineral spirits applied with cotton swabs might do the trick.

Stamped heavy foil (without paper backing) was sometimes used for labels.

 

I thought Mineral Spirits were a type of solvent - I'd be scared it would make the label fall off not to mention what it might do to the satin finish of the bottle.

 

Apparently they were solid brass sheet

 

Unless the satin finish is an applied overcoat, which seems unlikely) mineral spirits won't affect it. If you are using cotton swabs to apply it, and paying attention to what you are doing, mineral spirits should do a good job of removing various forms of gunk that may, or may not, be water soluble. You don't bathe the piece, you moisten (not drench) a swab and use that. And if worried, keep it away from the label.

 

On something like the second label Terry showed, I would not apply mineral spirit as it might affect the color, but I'd still use it on the glass.

I'd probably use saliva on that label.

 

My sources date this perfume to 1903 & I stand by my earlier post. If you want to clean it up a little use a paper towel or q-tip moistened with just water. Most commercial bottle collectors like to have some of the original fragrance & cleaning with any type of solvent will kill any residue.

If I was selling this bottle I would sell it in as found condition & let the buyer clean it how they wished. JMHO

http://www.perfumeintelligence.co.uk/library/index.htm

Peggy