Bronze and brass candlesticks: overview of types and tips for care
Candlesticks made of brass and bronze decorate the classic interior, bringing the "spirit of antiquity" into it. Interior designers are very fond of using such products when creating a festive atmosphere in the living room, because they are really associated with the holiday, well-being and luxury.
But over time, brass and bronze candlesticks lose their former appearance - they fade and stop shining. Then, of course, the question of how to bring them to a good condition becomes relevant, because you want the candlesticks to shine and delight. There are many cleaning methods, it remains only to choose the most acceptable and safe option.
A bit of history
Despite the fact that now every house has lighting: lamps, sconces, lamps and other appliances, some prefer to "go back in time", resorting to the use of antiques. Throughout life, a candle accompanies a person, saturating his life with comfort and a sense of harmony. Over the centuries, the candle has been modified, for example, the wick was made from a natural material - cotton.
Also, to decorate the house and illuminate the room, a variety of candlesticks were created, differing in materials and shapes. The first candle surfaces were flat, but over time they have changed to look like holders on a round stand. Candles in such items were placed in small cups-shaped stands - thus, the candles were placed at the very top of the structure.
An interesting fact: the number of nests in candlesticks depended on the needs and preferences of the owners of the house. For the most part, elegant candlesticks were used for the home - for one or three candles.
Over time, people began to attach great importance to decor, so candlesticks were decorated with various figures and ornaments. In the course of history, bronze candlesticks have been preserved - now you can see them in museums, in addition, they flaunt in castles.
With the development of new styles in art, new details appeared, for example, during the Rococo era (style in art, in 1730-1789), porcelain items were decorated with monograms, in addition, they were covered with gilding and decorated with drawings.
Time does not stand still, later materials such as alabaster and marble were used for candlesticks. These materials are not cheap, so only rich people could afford the products, and they also adorned churches. If it was required to move along the dark corridors of the estate, then the person took in his hands a stand with a candle, which consisted of a handle and a tray-saucer into which the wax dripped.
Species overview
The variety of types of brass bronze candlesticks is amazing. After all, you can choose any model that perfectly complements the interior and brings harmony to the living room or bedroom. It is possible to purchase both antiques and modern ones. To better navigate the range of candlesticks, it would be nice to know about what they are on sale.
- Candlestick "Fantasy" molded marble MK 5002, Spain. This bronze candlestick is made in the shape of a leaf, in gold color. Designed for one candle. The original model was made in the Spanish company Virtus 1945, specializing in the creation of bronze products. A cute candlestick can decorate a living room, bedroom or study.
- Candelabrum bronze for two candles "Moon" V4103-P, Spain. The candelabrum was made of precious metal by casting it into sand.There is no special form, it all depends on the artistic taste of the master. When the material hardens, the master paints, gilds - in general, he brings the product to perfection. This blue bronze candlestick is made in the shape of a crescent.
- Brass candlestick "Rococo" 21x7.5, Italy. The brass candlestick was made by the Italian factory Stilars. It will look great on a wooden or marble fireplace, bronze console. The model will be complemented by antique brass table clocks, for example, "Cleopatra".
- Bronze piano candlesticks, Europe, early 20th century, no. 1425. Antique twin candlesticks can be purchased online. They were manufactured between 1890 and 1917. A piano product will make a significant contribution to the interior of the room, giving it luxury and charm.
- Candelabra brass "Cupid", Italy. A pair of candelabra for 5 candles consists of beautiful tall golden candlesticks with angels for ordinary candles. Candlesticks in the Empire style can be placed on a sideboard, console, dining table, chest of drawers made of solid wood. Looks very original on a chest of drawers with curved legs made of ivory marble or walnut wood.
Care Tips
So, for those who have brass or bronze candlesticks at home, it will be helpful to learn how to clean them so that the decorative elements remain shiny and attractive. Brass items have long gained popularity among consumers due to their properties: high strength, luxurious shine. Bronze is a fairly common material that is used to create souvenirs and decorative items. Products made from this material are unpretentious, but still require proper care.
To restore an antique candlestick, it is easier to have it cleaned by a specialist, but if this is not part of the plans, then the following components will do:
- ammonia;
- ammonia;
- ethanol;
- salt and lemon.
Often, when it becomes necessary to clean jewelry, ammonia is used. To remove the greens and blackness characteristic of copper and brass products, a cotton pad is moistened in ammonia and rubbed on a candlestick. After that, the product is rinsed with soapy water. The same can be done with the bronze item. The main thing is to wipe the candlestick dry at the end of the procedure.
Ammonia is sure to be found in everyone's home medicine cabinet. Ammonia is poured into some deep container, and then a bronze candlestick is lowered into it. After that, it is taken out after a few minutes, washed and dried. There is another option - not to lower it, but to wipe the bronze or brass candlestick with an ammonia solution.
Cleaning does not always end successfully after the first time, in this case it is repeated, but you should know that a chemical can negatively affect the metal.
Sometimes ethyl alcohol is replaced with vodka. These components are excellent for cleaning bronze and brass products. Alcohol is applied to the flannel fabric, and then the product is thoroughly wiped. As a result, the plaque disappears, and the bronze or brass candlestick shines like new in the sun after cleaning, which is undoubtedly a huge plus.
To remove stubborn dirt from brass, use table salt and lemon juice. The components are mixed with each other (2 tablespoons of salt with a small amount of juice), after which the resulting gruel is abundantly applied to the product. After that, the candlestick is thoroughly washed with water and wiped dry.
Please note: it is not recommended to leave the garments to dry naturally after washing. They must be wiped off with a cloth, preferably with a natural composition. Candlesticks and candelabra will certainly bring a charming atmosphere into the house, warmth and give nostalgic notes and even pleasant sadness for the old days.
The price depends on the quality, material and size of the product - some are quite inexpensive.But buying a beautiful candlestick is not all: in order for it to remain shiny and delight in its appearance, you always need to take care of it, improvised means will help with this.
For information on how to polish brass or bronze to a shine, see the next video.
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