Trade Secrets - Chandeliers
In the first of a new series, an expert sheds light on the colourful world of hanging glass ornamentation.
Fabio Bergomi's west london chandelier shop, Rainbow London, sparkles with the reflected light of thousands of glass and crystal prisms, droplets and beads. When he first set up the shop four years ago, he sold mainly French furniture and other forms of lighting. But he soon realised that chandeliers were chic again, and now concentrates on them. Fabio sells both originals (sourced in Italy and France by Maria, his mother, who's been in the antiques business for 25 years) and reproductions. "In a modern setting you can make a statement with one chandelier," says Fabio. "Originals are more expensive, but many reporductions have the same effect."
Most of Rainbow London's chandeliers date from the 1850s to the 1930s - the oldest is a Genoeses design from 1817 - but all are restored and rewired before they leave the shop. Two years ago, the family began to create their own chandeliers, using antique designs as inspiration. The larger ones are mad by a company in Florence, the small ones, with about 2,000 beads, are hand-assembled by Maria herself, at home near Lake Garda. Each chandelier takes about two days to make.
The shop's range has recently expanded to include glass droplets handmade in Venice, in three shapes and eight colours. "We were inspired by the Venetian and Florentine chandeliers form the Twenties, which were the first to include coloured glass," he says. Fabio only reproduces authentic colours popular in the Twenties such as amethyst and amber which produce a glorious effect when added to a chandelier.
Rainbow London's decorative droplets have become a favourite with customers wishing to update a chandelier, add a contemporary edge to a classic piece, or simply create an effect for a special occasion. "Transforming a chandelier is a simple operation," says Fabio. "You just attach the droplets carefully to existing chains. I prefer to make a symmetrical arrangement but it's a matter of personal taste."
Fabio advises simple steps to avoid disaster:
"make sure you move around the chandelier don't twist it as you attach the droplets, and lay a thick blanket on the floor beneath you so that droplets won't shatter if they fall! Before you start, make a rough sketch to keep track of what you're doing and always work from the inside out. Working on a chandelier is tiring on hands and arms, so take frequent rests, and when you're finished, clean off any fingerprint marks with and ordinary bathroom cleaner dabbed on a soft cloth, then wipe with a clean, damp cloth."
And, with so many chandeliers to care for, Fabio knows a thing or two about maintaining glitter. "If we get a really filthy on in, we spray it with a bath cleaning-mousse, then shower it off," he explains. "But usually caring for a chandelier means regular dusting with an ostrich-feather duster and cleaning the crystal now and then. We get out a ladder and clean each droplet with a cloth sprayed with window cleaner or vineger." It might be time-consuming, but it's obviously a labour of love.
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