Adopt an Artwork
Chandelier
ArtistUnknown Dutch artist
DateAbout 1640–60
DimensionsH: 41 3/8 in.; Diam: 46 in.
MediumBrass
Place FromEuropean
Credit Line1961.41; Purchased with funds from the Florence Scott Libbey Bequest in Memory of her Father, Maurice A. Scott
$12,000
The brass surface of this chandelier has developed a layer of tarnish over time. Tarnish is a process that darkens or discolors a metal surface. It is typically caused by oxidation or other chemical reactions with elements in the air. The chandelier will need to be disassembled, the old lacquer coating removed, and the surface coated with a new protective conservation-grade lacquer that contains a UV fluorescent dye. The dye allows conservators to use UV light to determine that the chandelier has been well-coated.