Bulgarian Beer Cask
![Beer Can Design](http://www.davidcolecreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_0635-1880.jpg)
About a month ago, I ordered an antique beer cask on eBay for use as a photo prop. It arrived yesterday, dirty and disheveled – and barely still contained within the box that held it – after a six thousand mile journey.
I Just got through giving it a thorough once over with some woodworker’s paste wax and a toothbrush. What a beauty! The paste wax really cleaned up the rusty, dusty finish and gave it a subtle satin sheen – and filled in the many tiny pinholes and imperfections (the kind that would take a lot of time digitally removing them from every photo). See photo, above. What a handsome thing. I’m excited to get shooting.
I love how the new satin finish reflects some light, without going all the way to “glossy” which would be a problem.
Curious why the ends were painted red, I found some interesting information here.
![6,000 miles takes its toll on a cardboard box.](http://www.davidcolecreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_0608-1880.jpg)
6,000 miles takes its toll on a cardboard box.
![Rusty, dusty and dirty.](http://www.davidcolecreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_0620-1880.jpg)
Right off the boat: Rusty, dusty & dirty.
![Much better!](http://www.davidcolecreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_0630-1880.jpg)
Much better!