A life in Antiques - Seasonal sparkle...
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This year, I am hosting Christmas chez Hougham for me, my partner, my mother, my menagerie and various relatives and friends that will make for an extremely convivial, lively, yet potentially explosive Christmas – given the characters involved! The preparations start weeks ahead with the all important selection of the Christmas tree, the yearly unveiling of our precious family decorations and the decision about just how to transform my Victorian haven this season. Shall it be red, silver, gold or maybe even purple?!
At this time of year, the thrill of searching out antiques inspires me; in much the same way as the excitement many find in discovering what delights are in their Christmas stocking or wrapped up beautifully under the tree. Our treasures at The Packhouse come in many different guises – some small, some large, some glittery, some plain – but all in their own way special for each individual. Our desire to decorate, with our own particular recipe of festive flair, seems to take hold of all of us with an interest in interiors and a belief in the magic of Christmas.
With this in mind, my aim at fairs and auctions this month is to find sumptuous accessories and elegant pieces of furniture that will complement your perfect chosen Christmas look. As you can imagine, I was thrilled to find a beautiful French chandelier at Kempton Racecourse last week. It wasn’t exactly glistening as it hung on the seller’s stand, but the architectural detail ensured me that behind the dull façade was a piece that was destined to sparkle with cheeky delight in a future home – once cleaned up and restored.
Chandeliers have the magical ability to transform and enhance any room scheme or home. They can add glamour and drama to both formal and minimalist surroundings, creating a bold focal point, especially when hung low or in unexpected places. If you are out hunting for an antique chandelier, there are a few key technical points that may help you avoid the disasters experienced by the Trotters!
- Check for signs of corrosion or wear and tear. If re-wiring is necessary, it can prove very expensive
- Check that all the branches and bulb holders are secure with no loose wires. If branches are broken do not buy as they can often be very difficult or impossible to repair
- Ensure the chandelier has a ceiling rose and a method to fix it to the ceiling
- Replacements for any missing candle drips and droplets are normally easy to source, but provide a good haggling point when negotiating price
- Avoid fixtures that have any glass shades missing; they may be impossible to replace
- When installing small/medium chandeliers, a sliding ceiling hook will enable you to detach the chandelier from the power. This way the entire fixture and stem can be brought down to clean
- A chandelier with clean crystals/glass drops will truly sparkle. Remove the drops, make a note of where they came from and then wash with soapy water. Dry them and then replace. Bulbs and branches should be cleaned too with a damp cloth and then dried thoroughly
I wish you all a very happy Christmas and look forward to our next encounter in the New Year (if, that is, I survive the festive chaos at home and my guests survive the annual gruelling ritual of my culinary experiments!).
Alison Hougham lives in a renovated Victorian ground floor apartment near Farnham. When not at home or at
The Packhouse, which is also in Farnham, you will often see her over the Surrey Hills piloting her hot air balloon.
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