CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The two-ton crystal chandelier that usually resides in the state Capitol dome has come down and is being dismantled in preparation for repairs to the dome.
The chandelier slowly descended on Monday afternoon as a crowd of Capitol regulars observed.
Disco Inferno Day at the West Virginia State Capitol. pic.twitter.com/AbYfToGhBm
— Roger May (@walkyourcamera) February 5, 2018
This morning, it was being dismantled in preparation for being packed away for up to two years.
Employees from AccuBrite perform the disassembly. The company specializes in chandelier maintenance and performs annual work on all the chandeliers at the Capitol.
AccuBrite will disassemble and transport off site for storage and refurbishment during the dome project, said Diane Holley Brown, spokeswoman for the state Department of Administration.
Observers believe the chandelier will be down for a couple of years during efforts to repair the Capitol dome. The General Services Division is currently working with the engineer and general contractor to finalize the schedule for the project, said Holley Brown.
Still spinning, still sparkling pic.twitter.com/1HQmaaSHaS
— Brad McElhinny (@BradMcElhinny) February 6, 2018
Keith Campbell, the owner of AccuBrite chandelier services, was on site at the Capitol this morning and watched the work. He said the company also restored the same chandelier about a decade ago.
He said workers have been removing the crystal and taking apart the outside “skin,” including the sphere structure. The inside, described as the “Sputnik,” includes 96 lights that were also being dismantled.
The components will be crated and boxed and shipped to AccuBrite’s secure, temperature-controlled headquarters in New Hampshire. There it will be stored, cleaned and renovated.
“This is a jewel. It’s one of a kind,” Campbell said. “Being a piece of art — and historical art — you just don’t get these things from the local store.”