CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE OF YOUR
MANTLE CLOCKS AND ORNAMENTS
|
Born in the royal cours at the end of the XIIth century, mantle clocks and ornaments really bloomed under the roofs of the French bourgeoisie in the middle of the XIXth century following the styles from Napoleon III to Art Deco. In the XIXth century, we begin to see a plethora of materials such as woods, crystal, glass, porcelain, onyx, marble, brass, copper, tortoiseshell... often united in once same piece.
Among this wide range, bronze is in the limelight. Foundry workers give it various textures with gilding, patina or even paint. The end of the XIXth century sees the birth of antifriction metal (an alloy of copper, tin, antimony and lead used to cover bearings) which quickly floods the market for its amazing imitation of bronze.
When in doubt, do not hesitate to check the metal yourself. With a knife scratch a small area under the pedestal or base. If the color of the chip is yellow, it's bronze. If the chip is white, it's antifriction metal. This does not make your piece any less valuable. It only means you will proceed differently to clean and maintain it. Because they are constantly exposed to dust and heat, maintenance and regular care of mantle clocks and ornaments is vital.
|
Clocks
- Always place your clock on a horizontal surface and dry area.
- Dust tends to seep into the mechanism and will eventually damage it. Regularly dust your clock with a feather duster or a paintbrush. Do not use a cloth, as it might damage the bronze's protrusions.
- Wind up the mechanism at least once a week.
- Avoid turning the arms of the clock in reverse so as to not damage the mechanism.
- In case of a problem, do not try to take the mechanism apart. Entrust this task to a specialist.
|
Ornaments
- In most cases, the ornamental pieces have never been used. Regularly dust your candlesticks, candelabra, vase, urn, bowl or cup with a feather duster.
- For a spring cleaning, do not use hard brushes or abrasive pads. A warm bath in soapy water will remove the dust and dirt. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
- If your bronze pieces have lost their shine, apply a thin coat of liquid wax. Let it dry, then buff with a soft cloth.
- For the metal parts (copper, brass, ...) do not use wax. Instead, use the appropriate metal cleaner easily found in hardware stores.
- Glass, crystal and ceramic will do well with soapy water. Rinse and dry thoroughly so as to avoid marks.
- Shine your marble with clean liquid wax applied with a brush. Let it dry and buff with a wool cloth.
|
Above: Art Deco creation (1918-1930) in marble and antifriction metal, with one clock and two vases.
Top of page: Napoleon III model (1848-1870) in antifriction metal, composed of one clock and two candelabras.
|
|
