Neglected leather box - help!

Sounds like a beautiful piece! Can you post a photo? I just read on a handbag site to clean leather with a bit of hand soap and warm water. I clean my leather chairs and hassocks with olive oil. I would test cleaning a small area of your box with the water/soap first. If that doesn't do it, maybe ask an old cobbler for advice. I'd love to see before and after pics. Good luck!

I think I would take it to a saddler who restores saddles and deals in leather. They may have some kind of cleaner that would help. If it's water marked i don't thin there's much that can be done. I hope you manage to get it restored, what a lovely keepsake it will be.

Saddle soap, dry off and polish with a nourishing leather polish.

Thank you all for this. I've just realised my cleaner has horses so would probably be able to help - what am I - thick that's what!!