Help!!! Son wrote on trench art

[Chap15]

I just received an awesome chaplain grouping of a US Chaplain who was in the PTO. Before I put it all together for the forum, here is a cross made from shells. The son (who is 60 now) wrote on it a few years ago when he thought he was going to die. He wrote where it came from but also that he used it when someone died. I have a list of all the items and it is signed by the son. So the question is...Do I clean it?

[Chap15]

The clean side

[WalterB]

The clean side

Since it appears that one side remains unmarked and intact, I would keep the other side with the writing as well. It provides an interesting source of provenance. This can always be removed in the future, so no permanent harm appears to have been made. Keep it, it probably adds an interesting feature to the piece!

[EKman]

Dont clean it, leave it the way you got it.

[Tyler Ramsey]

Yea, I would leave it the way it is.
Nice piece btw!

[David S]

Don't clean it . . . the writing gives it a personal touch, character one might say.

[Jean-Loup]

I agree you should leave it.

[Chap15]

Sounds like I should leave it.

Thanks for the input.

[Laurence Strong]

Leave it

[Heer Flak]

I am no expert on Trench Art, but doesn't a lot of Trench Art have writing on it? I would leave it and I agree with what has been said.

Eric

[Glenn R]

In my opinion the writing on the piece lifts it from being just a piece of trench art and gives it a tangible history. I'd definately leave it. It is not harming the piece in any way so leave it where it is. Nice item by the way.

[Lasse L]

Leave it

[all1knew]

Hello,

Just another vote for not touching this wonderful example of trench-art.

Thanks.

William Kramer