A private client in Mayfair asked us to clean an early-1800s French chandelier that had not been attended to for many years. The item hangs in the principal reception room of a listed townhouse and required cleaning without dismantling.
The Piece
The chandelier is constructed from a gilded brass frame supporting tiers of leaded crystal drops and pendalogues, characteristic of French work of the period. The glass had taken on a uniform film of fine dust, dulling the natural refraction of the cut crystal.
Work Carried Out
- Full protection of floors, furniture and adjacent finishes
- In-situ cleaning of every crystal, drop and pendalogue by hand
- Careful attention to the gilded frame using methods appropriate to the original surface
- Reattachment of any drops that had worked loose over time
- Final inspection and electrical safety check
Approach
The chandelier was cleaned entirely in place. Each element was treated individually, with the surrounding metalwork left undisturbed. Work was carried out unhurriedly over one day to allow proper attention to every component.
Outcome
The chandelier returned to full clarity, with the original gilding and leaded glass presented as intended. No element was removed or altered, and the item remains in its long-standing position. We have undertaken similar in-situ chandelier cleaning on comparable period pieces in Holland Park and Chiswick, and on a Maria Theresa chandelier in Pimlico.
