Cleaning a fire screen

whistler-alison

Hi. I got myself a very cheap art deco style fire screen at a flea market over the weekend. I don't know what metal it is made of - it is quite flimsey and I suspect that it is some kind of electroplated metal - the back is black but the front is a kind of pinkish tarnished colour - I suspect silver colour underneath. Does anyone know how I got about cleaning this or whether I should in fact clean it at all. The tarnished colour is quite pleasing though there are splogdes and spots on it in the tarnish. Would bringing it up sliver again just ruin it? I know they talk about not polishing stuff like brass on Flog It and such. Trouble is that I can't really clean the back first as a test where it won't be seen because the back and front are different materials. Any advice appreciated.

demented_2

Hi, Do you know roughly how old the fire screen is? I have a very old House hold tips book, It weighs a ton, well nearly, so there might be something in there that might be of some help to you, if you know roughly how old it is. I will have a look for you. If that makes sense.

whistler-alison

Hi - thanks - it is an art deco "fan" style - a sheet of metal as opposed to the mesh type. So I would suspect it is 1930s or thereabouts.