Antique chandeliers are very attractive and can be quite valuable. However, they too lose value over time due to several factors and conditions. This might tarnish the original character of the house. You need to count yourself lucky if any of the antique chandeliers in your house are still in shape and intact. To maintain the original character of the house, we need to restore the antique features of the chandelier. This is also a way to honor the piece. Read on to learn about the four ways in which one can restore a chandelier’s antique features which are: safety, cleaning, replacing missing parts, and special finishes.
Safety:
It is only natural to have the desire to clean a chandelier coated with a mixture of dust and dirt. The first step before deciding to check the condition of an antique chandelier is to see if the original wiring is in place. If the original wiring is in place but has been tampered with, make sure professional wiring is done. If you do the wiring yourself, make certain that you do it correctly. If you have the slightest doubt about handling the task successfully, call an experienced electrician to fix it for you. Do not risk getting a shock or destroying the whole chandelier just to fix a light fixture.
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Evaluation and Cleaning:
Most times an antique chandelier only requires light cleaning to keep off the dirt from accumulating. This should be done carefully to keep the original lacquered finish intact. It is important to know what metal your chandelier is made from to understand how you are going to clean it because the steps you follow to clean an antique silver chandelier are not the steps you take to clean an antique brass chandelier. Brass only requires a light touch or hand polish to clean it while maintaining its shiny finish. Some chandeliers have uneven surfaces and this might call for some deep and thorough cleaning. Keep in mind a good cleaning and rearranging session involves taking the chandelier apart.
Restoring Missing Parts:
Most of the antique chandeliers that come to the repair shop often have a part missing. You rarely find all the pieces intact. A really common part that rarely stays intact is the canopy. When I say the canopy I mean the part that is close to the ceiling. Most of the parts of the antique chandeliers made between 1880 and 1940 have not changed much. This is what has called for the part-replacing process. However, people always prefer to use parts that symbolize the originality of the piece. They will go to great lengths just to make sure the replacement they get for their antique chandelier is also antique.
Restoring Special Finishes:
There is a large range of finishes that can be restored to an antique chandelier. Most of them can be done at home except the ones whereby strict controls are needed. To have the best effect when restoring your chandelier’s finishing, introduce a set of professional hands. There are some parts on the chandelier that might seem simple to clean but because of their intricacy, might be easily damaged. So ensure that you take this exercise very seriously.
I hope this article helps you to restore your chandelier’s luster. Kindly be keen when checking its wiring process. Have the right tools when doing a thorough cleaning or just light cleaning. Ensure you get antique parts to replace your damaged parts. Use modern ones if antiques are not available. Finally, does a skillful finish to avoid cracking or making the chandelier look bizarre? You can get the best rustic chandeliers for my house from lightupmyhome.com at affordable prices.
