Cleaning a Pair of Tent-and-Tier Chandeliers in Marylebone, London

G & P Cohn recently undertook the cleaning of two medium-sized tent-and-tier chandeliers at a property in Marylebone, central London.

Both chandeliers are dressed throughout with glass buttons and icicles: strings of buttons descend from the canopy to a circular metal frame, drapes of buttons loop from stay to stay around the ring, and tiers of buttons and icicles hang below. Their construction incorporates numerous individual glass components, requiring careful dismantling to achieve a thorough clean.

We brought our own ladders, cleaning materials and equipment to carry out the work on site.

Rather than simply cleaning the glass while it remained hanging, we dismantled the chandeliers section by section to allow the individual components to be cleaned more thoroughly.

We began by removing the hanging glass sections, carefully marking where each belonged.

This was particularly important because the chandeliers contain several tiers of buttons and icicles, strings of buttons running from the canopy down to the ring, and drapes hung from stay to stay around it, all arranged to create their distinctive tent-and-tier shape.

We continued removing each section systematically until the glass had been taken off and the metal framework was exposed.

The photographs taken during this stage show how the chandelier's appearance changes as the individual glass sections are removed, eventually revealing the supporting circular frames beneath.

Once removed, the glass sections were taken to the sink and carefully cleaned.

Cleaning the components separately allowed us to reach the individual buttons, icicles, strings and drapes more thoroughly.

With the glass removed, we also cleaned the exposed metal framework, including the circular supports and accessible fittings.

After cleaning, we reinstalled the individual glass sections in reverse order.

The markings made during dismantling allowed each section to be returned to its correct position, preserving the chandeliers' original arrangements.

The same process was followed for both chandeliers.

Once reassembled, the cleaned glass reflected and refracted the light more clearly, restoring the sparkle of the buttons and icicles.

Tent-and-tier chandeliers can be particularly time-consuming to clean because of the number of individual glass components and the care required when dismantling and reassembling them.

G & P Cohn has specialised in chandelier cleaning, restoration and repair since 1954.

We undertake on-site cleaning of antique and contemporary chandeliers throughout London, Hertfordshire and the Home Counties, with workshop cleaning available where appropriate.