Featured Help for the glass on my Mughal beauty, please.

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by Any Jewelry, Apr 28, 2018.

  1. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Does anyone have any ideas on how to improve the transparency of the glass on my little brooch?
    It is a mid 19th century Lahore School silver mounted miniature portrait of Mumtaz Mahal, 1593-1631, the Mughal Empress who inspired her husband Shah Jahan to build the Taj Mahal.
    The Lahore School was the most famous school of Mughal style miniature painting. Lahore is in present day Pakistan.
    The portrait is delicate and vulnerable, but it is protected by a convex piece of glass. The glass has become scratched and rather dull, and it is often difficult to see the lovely Mumtaz.
    Obviously I can't use any liquid on the glass, it could seep behind the glass and damage the painting. Does anyone have any idea how to improve the look and transparency?
    Thank you for looking.
    upload_2018-4-28_12-59-21.jpeg
    upload_2018-4-28_12-59-37.jpeg

    The portrait is very small, amazing artistry. (regular size paper clip)
    upload_2018-4-28_13-0-35.jpeg
    upload_2018-4-28_13-1-6.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2018
  2. Huntingtreasure

    Huntingtreasure Well-Known Member

    Sorry I can’t offer any help, but it’s a lovely pin. I’m sure someone will have a suggestion for you!
     
    judy and Any Jewelry like this.
  3. Houseful

    Houseful Well-Known Member

    Some sort of special powder used maybe with a soft buffer pad on a Dremel? There’s got to be something the specialists use.
    First thought was T cut which gets scratches out of your car body but it might make even more tiny scratches making things worse.
     
    judy and Any Jewelry like this.
  4. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    Tiny bit of jewellers paste or toothpaste or even metal polish paste, circular motion with one finger.
     
  5. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Thank you, that's what I thought.
     
    judy and Houseful like this.
  6. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Thanks Davey, I'll give it a try.
     
    judy likes this.
  7. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Thank you, Hunting.:)
     
  8. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    There is something they use to clear up headlights!! You rub it on the outside of older foggy looking headlights and it does wonders, but do not know what it's called, but my BIL used it and his headlights came out like NEW!!! Maybe a tiny bit applied with a finger.............I believe it did come in a small plastic bottle......

    FORGOT.....AND it's a VERY BEAUTIFUL pin, AJ!!!!!!!!!:singing::singing::singing::):)
     
    judy, Any Jewelry and pearlsnblume like this.
  9. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Thanks Aqui.:happy:
    I ordered some jewellers paste (rouge), they also mentioned removing scratches from glass in the description. I had been meaning to get some for silver jewellery, and it seems it would do the trick for my lovely Mumtaz as well.:)
     
    Aquitaine, kyratango and judy like this.
  10. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    I do hope you will show us the end result???!!:smug::smug::smug::):)
     
    judy and Any Jewelry like this.
  11. kyratango

    kyratango Bug jewellery addiction!

    Aww, she is a tiny beauty:woot:
    The mount border looks like Thomas L. Mott, but other makers used this pattern too...
    [​IMG]
    Rouge seems to be a good solution, but because of the convex shape, I was going to suggest taking beautiful Mumtaz to a jeweller who would unset the glass and be able to polish it thoroughly without touching the mount:)
     
    judy and Any Jewelry like this.
  12. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Thanks kyra.:happy::kiss:
    It is probably a bit older, but I do think it is likely that the Lahore painters bought "diy sets" to mount their beauties. They painted many miniatures to be put in silver mounts.
    Taking her to a jeweller is not an option at the moment, mobility issues.
    But I am used to working with finicky things, I used to make jewellery, and still do minor repairs. Of course beads and findings are sent flying through the air regularly, because I am much more clumsy now than I used to be.:rolleyes: But Mumtaz is big enough to stay in one place, and I was thinking of holding her upside down while I polish the glass. Just hope she doesn't get dizzy.:oops:
     
    judy likes this.
  13. kyratango

    kyratango Bug jewellery addiction!

    Oh, AJ, sorry to hear about your issues:(
    Yep, upside down, rubbing her on a padded piece of leather bearing the rouge, should be the best safe way :)
     
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