20th Century Sterling Silver
Cement Filled / Cement Reinforced Candlesticks & Candelabra

Straightening Sterling Silver Candlesticks

When these sterling silver candlesticks arrived for repair they were tilting significantly in different directions (right photo.) To prevent this from happening to your sterling silver candlesticks do not let them get hot. Never put them in the dishwasher or let them soak in very hot water. Avoid display in a hot sunny window. The core pitch like material will get soft and they may start leaning over like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Sterling Silver Candlesticks were STRAIGHTENED and polished

Most sterling silver are filled with pitch. Sometimes it is possible to soften the pitch core enough to straighten the candlesticks without taking them apart. While not perfect, they are so much better than they were that it is best to leave well enough alone. The candlesticks were also covered with years of crud, and tarnish which in this case was difficult to remove. Tar residue from exposure to smoking in the house can also be a serious challenge to remove. The dents and misshapen candle cups were also repaired. The customer was very pleased with the results.

Repairing Sterling Silver Candelabra  

marked as: "Cement Reinforced" or "Weighted" Candlesticks

Many 20th century candlesticks and candelabra are labeled Cement Reinforced or Weighted.  The sterling silver is very thin, thinner than a piece of paper.  The candle cup, stem sections, and base are filled with pitch.  Over time the pitch core breaks when the candlesticks are dropped or handled roughly. The candelabra arms are fragile and vulnerable to breaking. 

Repairs are very challenging.  Contact me to send photos of your sterling silver candlestick and I will tell you what I can do.  Do not glue. Glue will not hold and can be difficult to remove. Repair of these candlesticks is not a cost-saving measure for a flea market find.

The sterling silver candelabra above was leaning sideways and the base had extensive damage. The candle cups were bent and the center candle cup actually had a hole ripped into it from a knife. The right image is restored. Look below for a close-up view.

In the left close-up look at the wrinkled and damaged candle cups of a 20th century cement filled candlestick. Never use a knife to remove candle wax as it can cause serious damage and cuts in the sterling. To remove was, put your candlestick in the refrigerator. After it is cold, use your fingernail to pop off the wax. In the right photo, I fabricated a sterling silver form to cover the ripped hole in the candle cup. Wrinkles can be removed from the sterling silver candle cups, but it is not easy to do.

Return to the Candlestick and Candelabra page - CLICK HERE.