Thanks . So far , the only feedback we have gotten is from friends " Paint it white."
No. Just no.

Definitely leave it. The white walls make the room light enough already. You can always make the moulding stain a bit darker to "lighten" the ceiling.

I envy you your ceiling, it us exactly what we want to do to ours.

Thank you . Turns out the ship lap is on every ceiling in house . I kinda want to rip down the plaster in kitchen and master bath but hubby isn't on board . Yet.
It took less than hour to rip plaster off and came down amazingly easy .
I've tried to tell him people " pay " for the look we have for free . He isn't convinced . Again, yet.

Plaster will eventually come down on its own, as we are finding out in our 1935 farmhouse.

Is that actually shiplap? By that I mean: Is it the underside of the upstairs floor or a separate layer? It looks incredible. Don't paint.

in a Victorian house this would have never been left like this it would have been covered in plaster sometime quite ornate plaster or if it was wood it would have been done with beautiful wood and finished perfectly IMO this was a cheap wood they used and was meant to be covered. I think if you are modernizing the house keep it if you like it , I think it looks very country so my paint brush would be out .

I agree with Patricia. It looks like a subfloor (even if it's not) and gives off a very 70's vibe. If you can't afford to re-plaster, I'd paint to make it go away.

I think its gorgeous just as it. Don't paint it! If you're not trying to replicate the original look of your home, it's a great feature for the room...especially if you have high ceilings. I love a bit of eclectic thrown in for interest and you've got it built in...lucky girl!!!

It's gorgeous!! But more of a farmhouse, rustic look.

I'd have to see your decor and other architectural details before weighing in.

It's not a subfloor. If it was, you'd see the supporting beams.

Considering the house is Victorian, I doubt that it was the original design to have this showing. Plaster ceilings were the norm in those homes. I'm pretty sure that dust and debris will filter through. Hopefully to a limited extent. Think carefully before taking down the plaster in other rooms. It would be a shame to replace them with a modern ceiling substance. Don't mean to be Debbie Downer, but I have family members with Victorian houses. It does look pretty, but maybe for just one room, not the whole house?

It is definitely not a subfloor.

Looks to be tongue and groove and looks like it was installed intentionally. Could be that it was installed after the original construction, then someone in the later years tried to bring it back to original by plastering over it.

I agree with the others that are saying if it fits your style, sand it, finish it, and keep it. If it doesn't, paint it, or, if it fits your budget, replaster it.

I don't care what style it is or whether or not it was original. It's beautiful, keep with natural wood look -- no paint.

Wow, that's awesome! I'd leave it as is and have it inform the rest of the decor. Just because you live in a Victorian house doesn't mean you have to decorate it like one. You can do a casual farmhouse look--ala Joanna Gaines. She'd LOVE that shiplap!