Restoration of Brass Chandeliers

There are different ways to take down a chandelier. Many chandeliers are very heavy and cannot be brought down without an aid.

Canal lift

Up to 8 meters height (top side chandelier) the whole chandelier can be brought down with a hoist lift. Chandeliers up to 500 kilograms can be brought safely to the floor.

Up to a height of 12 meters (top of the chandelier), the chandelier can be brought down via a ladder or scaffold provided the arms are removable and weigh less than 25 kilograms each.

How do we pack a chandelier for transport?

The separate parts of the chandeliers are labelled one by one. After labelling, each component is carefully wrapped in foil. For each chandelier there are wooden transport boxes where the same parts are neatly put together.

By means of a magnifying glass the thread can be checked for damage. In case of doubt, a tensile test will be done with five times the total weight of the part. We do this to make sure that the thread is strong enough when the chandelier is reassembled.

By means of a magnifying glass the weld can be checked for damage. In case of doubt, another tensile test will be done with the total weight of the product x 5. This to make sure that the thread is strong enough.

Chandelier parts are polished by means of a polishing machine with polishing discs. The polishing discs are provided with polishing paste in different gradations. By moving the part of the chandelier along the brush, it is lightly sanded and the shiny surface of brass reappears.

By means of a two-component lacquer/varnish we lacquer the parts of the chandeliers. After complete curing (24 to 48 hours), these are sealed off from oxygen and thus no oxidation can occur. In this way the dark and duller are postponed. Oxygen is the culprit of the blackening of the brass.

By means of numbers/letters or labels we can put the chandelier back together again. The basic parts are secured on a steel rod. The arms are secured by plug-in pins.

There are two ways to electrify chandeliers. 17th century chandeliers have solid arms and therefore no electricity cables can be pulled through them. We use gold wire and small gold ty-raps to attach the cables to the chandelier arms. From a height of 2.5 to 3 meters this wiring is almost invisible with the lighting on.

The 19th century chandeliers have hollow arms through which electricity cables can be pulled. In this way the cables are invisible.

By means of an electric winch we can adjust chandeliers up to 15 meters in height. This makes it possible to lower the chandeliers up to 1 meter above the ground for easy cleaning. If for an event the chandelier has to be raised then this can be adjusted with one push on the button.

After maintenance, the chandelier will be transported in its entirety to location, the chandelier will usually be transported in a wooden transport box. The transport box is rolled to the right place. From there the chandelier will be hung on the hook by means of a duct lift. With accompaniment of a scaffolding or a high staircase it is possible to guide the chandelier up and connect it.

By means of a 2-component lacquer we seal the brass from the oxygen that causes oxidation. See question lacquers.

• In case of an electric chandelier
• Re-assembly of cabling
• Mounting LED luminaires

What can you tell that a chandelier needs maintenance?

• Yellow colour is very dull and/or brass does not shine anymore
• Black spots under the lacquer, brass in far state of oxidation
• Flaking lacquer
• Different colors of lacquer, stains

We can make all the dull chandeliers shine again and restore them to new condition.