Restoring a Victorian Crystal Decanter

Recently a client brought us a Victorian crystal decanter that had spent decades in storage. The stopper was seized, the crystal was cloudy, and the base had a small chip.

Our restoration took three careful steps.

**1. Cleaning.** We soaked the decanter in a mild acid solution to dissolve mineral deposits, then hand-polished with a soft cloth.

**2. Stopper release.** A combination of warm water and gentle leverage freed the seized stopper without cracking the neck.

**3. Chip repair.** We ground and polished the base chip, leaving a smooth, barely-visible mark that preserves the piece's integrity.

The result: a 130-year-old decanter ready for another century of use.