A private client in Central London asked us to clean an Art Deco chandelier with a nickel-plated frame. The plated finish required careful attention to remove atmospheric dust without disturbing the original surface.
The Piece
An Art Deco chandelier of geometric form, with a nickel-plated metal frame and period glass shades characteristic of early twentieth-century design.
Work Carried Out
- Protection of floors, furnishings and adjacent finishes
- Hand cleaning of the nickel-plated frame using methods appropriate to the original surface
- Removal and individual cleaning of the glass shades
- Inspection of the electrical components and lamp holders
- Reassembly with each shade returned to its original position
- Final electrical check and lamping
Approach
Nickel plating is easily marked by abrasive cleaning. Every element of the frame was addressed by hand, with materials chosen to lift dust without disturbing the original plated surface.
Outcome
The chandelier was returned to a clean, even finish with the geometry of the frame reading as intended, and the period glass shades back in their original positions. Related cleaning projects on period metalwork include the early-1800s French chandelier in Mayfair and the Southend chandelier cleaning.
