posted 12-28-2011 07:03 PM            

Hope everyone is having a great holiday season!

I have the opprtunity to purchase a pair of candlesticks and need some opinions. They have a sterling top and bottom that are pierced and very ornate (circa 1890-1900). The center section on each is a tapered crystal cylinder with (I think) wheel-cut engraving. Unfortunately, the tops and bottoms have come apart from the crystal cylinders. The cylinders are not broken. Do you think these can be repaired? I know that superglue was tried on one of them and it did seem to hold. So to purchase and repair or just wait? They really are a cool pair of candlesticks that I would love to have but the "damage" kinda scares me.

Any opinions would be greatfully accepted.

posted 12-28-2011 08:30 PM            

Just my thought, but I would also consider if the manufacturer has a good name. That would influence me.

posted 12-28-2011 10:42 PM            

That's great! Now I have another question for you.

Are not the glass insert supposed to separate from the candlesticks?

Maybe I'm not to bright but mine do.
Is this different?

Thank you for your time. I hope I'm not sounding too dumb. Good luck & go with your heart!

BTW
Happy New Year!

posted 12-28-2011 10:54 PM            

No these aren't inserts per se. They are the columns between the silver tops and the silver bases. Looking at them, I would venture to say they were originally "glued" into the bases and tops. I wish I had pictures so that you coould really see how they look.

posted 01-18-2012 11:01 PM            

Did you get the candleholders?

posted 01-20-2012 11:26 PM            

Get a professional to do the repair.. Cheap and easy. Somewhere between $35 and $75. for the pair.

posted 01-21-2012 09:59 PM            

Will another better example come along .....

Your call.....

All the best in your quest!

posted 01-24-2012 07:06 PM            

A message from a friend regarding your fix it problem.

Whoever suggested plaster was barking up the right tree, although I doubt that it would have been Plaster of Paris, which is a very hard plaster which, because it dries very quickly as the result of a strong chemical reaction, produces a good deal of heat as it does so, and forms a very hard surface and body to achieve a strong bond; nor Gypsum Plaster (drywall compound) either, for that matter, which dries very slowly as the water evaporates from the mix, without heating, but it shrinks as it dries, and when dry, although it has a soft body and surface, has a relatively weak bond.

I can't say what the "right" plaster compound would be, but I think it would end up being a relatively slow-drying plaster, one that dries with a chemical reaction but doesn't produce a lot of sudden heat, doesn't shrink, and ends up forming a strong bond and a relatively hard surface, but not one so hard that, the next time repairs are necessary, the repair-person would be more likely to break the glass than to break the plaster.

If you've ever handled blown glass whale oil lamps (usually attributed, rightly or wrongly, to the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company) you will have seen that there is a brass or occasionally pewter collar that is fixed to the glass, and into which the burner can be screwed. That collar was invariably held onto the glass body (the oil font) of the lamp with a plaster material. That is the plaster you want to use, and I think that if one were to look in enough old artisan's recipe (or receipt) books, one would find the right materials and mix. I suspect it will turn out to be a non-hydraulic lime putty, but that's speculation on my part; I've never researched it.

If you are not familiar with an artisan's recipe (or receipt) book it is an 1830 general receipt book....there were many published and many of them can be found online free in a scanned format, but it takes some time to look through them when you are looking for something specific & it then be often difficult to know if the common materials they call for are still commonly available, by that name or any other name.
( He adds it could make for an interesting afternoon ).

He then added...Don't use super Glue to do anything except stick your fingers together. That he says, is the only thing it is good for! (LOL)

I hope I got his message down correctly & I Hope his thoughts may prove to be helpful to you.

Jersey

posted 01-24-2012 08:15 PM            

Thanks again for all the information.

Robert