How to clean marble

[Randy Hirst]

I have an old French clock that is made of marble and it looks like it has a build up of lemon pledge or turtle wax. The finish has some sort of white haze over it and I'd like to try and remove it. I'm told that marble is slightly porous (sp?) so I don't want to use anything that will make it worse. Suggestions?

 

[shimmystep]

Hi Randy. Marble cleaner is available for cleaning expensive kitchen tops, I have a bottle made by Eddingtons, don't know if you have that brand in the US, bound to be others though. I use this on my marble clock to and don't use polish on it. Have you a pic of the haze on the clock? Has it been lacquered before? old lacquer?

 

[Randy Hirst]

Good question. I have no idea if it's been laquered. Doesn't look like it to me. i have some Slate Black that works good on slate, but I'm not sure if it can be used on this.

 

[gmorse]

Hi Randy,

A very good-looking garniture!

Since these 'slate' cases are really a kind of black limestone, the Meadows & Passmore 'slate' blacking compound is designed for this, and works very well on a cleaned surface. They would have been polished originally in several stages, and the abrasives used would have depended on the exact type and origin of the stone.

One way of cleaning the case is to use pure turpentine, (not the substitute or white spirit), on a pad to remove the dirt and old polish. If it's really filthy, use a very fine grade of wire wool with the turps first, and if you're not sure, try a spot on the back of the case to see how it comes up.

The book 'The French Marble Clock' by Nicholas M. Thorpe is the best source I know for this detailed information on these fine clocks.

Regards,

Graham

 

[shimmystep]

Ah ok, slate not marble. Nice set, will look very good after a clean and re-blacking.

 

[Randy Hirst]

Ah ok, slate not marble. Nice set, will look very good after a clean and re-blacking.

Are you sure? i thought slate at first but was told by someone I consider an expert that it is called a french marble mantle. Or is that just a name?

 

[gmorse]

Hi,

Yes these are usually called 'French marble', but strictly speaking the vast majority are made of a black limestone, much of which was quarried in Belgium. There are a few which are really slate, and also some which are a true marble, but not many.

Regards,

Graham