Featured Help with cleaning verdigris?

Found this piece in a lot today, I know it’s Austro Hungarian and most likely Silver gilt. However, it does have some verdigris and I am at a loss of how to clean it since I’m pretty sure soaking it it would ruin the stones. I won’t tell y’all how I have gotten verdigris off in the past but I won’t be doing it to this item, LOL. Help? Thanks!

 

I'm confused, silver gilt should not have verdigris, I would expect to see that on brass

 

I had not tested it previous to my posting but I just did and it has a strong Silver content. However that being said, I’ve had all kinds of materials with verdigris on them, even gold. I found that if any organic matter gets on the metal that it will turn green. So possibly not verdigris but something else? I just need to know how to get it off without damaging this piece.

 

Got most of it off with a toothpick and small stiff brush. But there is still some in the crevices. If anyone knows how to get it off I sure would appreciate the tips.

 

Q tip soaked in vinegar, gently.

 

It is gorgeous, Raccoon, and very Austro-Hungarian. Looks like the stones are real too?

I use oil on one of those rubbery brushy toothpicks that gets into crevices, let the oil penetrate the verdigris for a while, and then remove it with alcohol. Other people use vinegar, but I wouldn't use that near a pearl or mop.
Will you let us know if it works?

Lower silver finenesses, which AH silver often is, can have verdigris. I often find it on silver of .800 or lower.

That could happen when the gold comes has been in contact with an item that already has verdigris, by cross-contamination.

 

Just noticed that you posted that as I was typing away. What I wrote about the vinegar looks like a sneer at you, but it wasn't, I hadn't seen your post.

 

I am also in favour of oil, and I clean it off with alchol. Both are metal friendly and work fine.

 

Very carefully! Nothing acidic should touch the mother of pearl center!!!
Keep scraping with a sharp WOODEN toothpick

 

@Any Jewelry - honey, no need to apologise, I took no offence from it. xx

I've used vinegar with huge care and with a bit of a trick. Smear the pearl with a smidgen of oil or vaseline first to protect it.

 

Gorgeous pendant. I agree with the others who said they use oil, but I use Singer machine oil on verdigris, corrosion/grunge because the bottle has a small tip. After applying the oil I work it into any grooves with a stiff artist's brush that I've cut down to where the bristles are closely packed so it's kind of like a small stencil brush. To get the oil and grunge off the brush while I'm working on a piece, I pounce the brush on a pad of paper towels. I also use a wooden toothpick for stubborn spots as kyratango mentioned.


To clean any oil residue off the glass stone, I sprayed lens cleaner on a microfiber cloth and wiped off the stone. I also used a Sunshine cloth (gently) on the metal after cleaning it.

 

Great job @Joan , and perfect photos.

 

Thank you, AJ.
This is on a completely different subject, but I've noticed recently that I'm no longer getting gmail notifications from Antiquers on my phone when someone adds a post to a thread I'm watching--I'm wondering if anyone else is having that problem. I always received them before, and I'm still getting notifications from other websites, but not Antiquers. For now, the only way I can keep up to date is to randomly check in and locate the threads I'm watching to see if there are any new posts. I've checked the notification settings on my phone, and everything seems to be in order. It's puzzling....

 

Did you see this? https://www.antiquers.com/threads/im-getting-zero-notifications-my-email-maybe.54534/

 

Thank you Holly blue. I didnt see the original post, but read the suggestions on your link and will try the fixes.

 

So ignore that last post; not too sure why it included what I wrote inside the quote. Still new at this board.
AJ- The stones appear to be real. They have Inclusions and are very rough cut. I ordered a new gem tester today so I should be able to post results soon. Hoping emerald and ruby!

The oil worked; I let it set for most the day and kept brushing it. There is still a bit in the rope border grooves but it is minimal.

 

Joan, thank you for the tips!

 

Here she is: