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Why Old Furniture Drawers Develop a Distinctive Smell

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Drawer odour can come from timber, old finish, wax, dust, tobacco, perfume, damp, mould or pest treatment.

Historical significance

Air the drawer in a dry shaded place and identify the source before masking it. Separate contents and inspect hidden surfaces.

A collector's lens

Do not use perfume, ozone or wet deodorising treatments. Persistent mustiness may signal active moisture or mould.

Practical takeaway

Record materials, dimensions, marks, condition, restoration and provenance separately. Compare with securely catalogued examples before strengthening an attribution.

Sources and further study

  • [V&A furniture collection](https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/furniture)
  • [The Met: Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History](https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/)
  • [CINOA Code of Ethics](https://www.cinoa.org/about/code-of-ethics/)

Dates and attributions should be tested against the individual object, documentary evidence and specialist scholarship.

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