Silver Filigree Work - Cleaning Methods?

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by A.alnakkas

Hello,

I have met some difficulties cleaning silver items with filigree work. As you may well know, filigree work has holes and whatever which makes it rather difficult to clean. Any tip on how to clean it?

I used some silver cleaning paste once, didnt like the result on filigree. The paste gets between the holes and spaces and is hard to remove. Although the paste is rather excellent for silver items that are more flat.

Salaams A.alnakkas~ The quickest way is with a brass brush ! which sounds agressive but it's not as the brass bristles which are softer than silver only takes away the silver oxidation and polishes the silver without a scratch. We often use lemon juice with the brush then wash off and dry the item afterwards.. Toothpaste and brush also works as do many modern cleaners and cloths.

The silversmith uses an enhanced method for example on stitched silver belts which are first cleaned in a solution called "sapun rita" (sapun means soap..see next para for how this is prepared) a smooth flat headed hammer is pressed firmly onto the silver decoration and pushed along the belt with moderate force...Burnished ... Cleaning the khanjar is a peculiar operation which sounds a bit majical ~

Sapun Rita is prepared by setting fire to a rita berry which when dropped into water disolves immediately forming a burnishing solution..into which the khanjar is dipped then brushed vigourously and given the mallet press treatment as above. It is a long lasting polish technique suited to filigree and needleworked silver stitching on Khanjar scabbard and belt.

I suspect that part of the idea in filigree work is not to even bother cleaning right down into the pattern which some would argue is part of the decorative technique and patina...

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.