And the job begins

This morning I started my first real curatorial/historic-upkeep job, by dusting. Yes, dusting. Still, dusting is important to historic collections. In fact, it can be argued that regular cleaning can do more to preserve historic objects than any preservation attempt made after the damage. I dusted in the Great Hall, the main entrance to the house and the room that is probably most prone to dust. The dangerous combination of visitors tromping in and out (and touching things they shouldn't and adjusting knick-knacks AND SITTING ON THE ANTIQUE CHIPPENDALES, arrgghh!) and heavy dark wood furniture that shows everything means that it requires the most work. It was surprisingly fun - working my way around the very valuable furniture. duster in gloved hand, being extra careful and precise so as not to damage anything. I felt like I was doing Important Work, when really I'm just a glorified housekeeper.

I imagine that it will become boring after a while, though, even if I only have to dust and swiffer every couple days, so I have taken to naming the furniture I work on. So far I have Balthazar (a big 19th century European chest/hutch thing, hulking and intricately carved), Armando (named so because he is an armoire of sorts, matching in style to Balthazar) and the Bobbsy Twins (two elaborate throne chairs with velvet upholstery and faces of important historical figures carved into the wood around the back. ) I'm still working on a name for a blue-green painted cabinet brought back from the South Pacific in the 1920s, so any suggestions would be welcome.