To care for a custodia, handle it with clean hands, avoid touching the glass and lunette, wipe the glass with a soft lens cloth, and store the vessel and lunette in a dry, padded place. Gold-plated brass is durable, but it is not indestructible. Abrasive polishes, water trapped in crevices and careless storage can dull the finish or damage the glass.
These habits take only a few minutes and protect a sacred vessel that may serve the parish for decades. They apply to the custodias in our collection and to any gold-plated exposition vessel.
Start with clean hands
Wash and dry your hands before handling the custodia. Oils and salts from the skin can dull the gold plate and leave fingerprints on the glass. If you wear gloves, use clean, soft gloves that will not scratch the finish. Avoid rings, watches or bracelets that could contact the metal.
Handle the vessel by the base and the stem, not by the glass capsule or the lunette. The capsule is the most fragile part, and the lunette is the part that must stay aligned.
Clean the glass
Use a soft lens cloth or a clean microfiber cloth. Breathe gently on the glass if you need a little moisture, then wipe in a circular motion. Do not use paper towels, tissues with lotion, or abrasive cleaners. If the glass is stubbornly dirty, use a small amount of lens cleaning solution on the cloth, not directly on the glass.
Check the glass for chips or cracks before each use. A damaged capsule should be replaced by a specialist; do not use a cracked custodia for exposition.
Clean the gold-plated brass
Dust the metal with a soft, dry cloth. For fingerprints, use a slightly damp cloth and dry immediately. Do not use silver polish, abrasive creams or scouring pads on gold plate; they can remove the thin gold layer. Avoid immersing the vessel in water, especially if it has joints or a closed mechanism where water can be trapped.
If the plating wears thin or the surface becomes uneven, have it restored by a specialist who works with sacred vessels. Do not attempt a DIY re-plating. A professional can also check the lunette and the glass capsule.
Care for the lunette
Handle the lunette by its frame, not by the glass. Wipe the glass with a lens cloth and store the lunette in its own case. Check that the lunette slides smoothly into the custodia; a tight fit can scratch the capsule, and a loose fit can let the host tilt. If the lunette needs adjustment, have it done by a specialist.
If you use a spare lunette, label the case so you know which lunette fits which vessel. A small label inside the case is enough.
Store the custodia
Store the custodia in a dry place, ideally in a case or a lined cabinet. Avoid damp sacristy corners, direct sunlight and extreme heat. If the vessel is stored for a long period, remove the lunette, clean the glass and wrap the vessel in a soft, breathable cloth. Do not wrap it in plastic that can trap moisture.
Keep the vessel upright if possible. If it must lie down, support the stem and the capsule so the weight is not on the glass. Do not stack other objects on top of the custodia.
Carry and transport
For a short move within the church, carry the custodia with both hands, one under the base and one on the stem. For a longer journey, use a padded case. If the model can be closed, close it before transport. Remove the lunette if the case is designed for separate storage, or secure it in its slot.
Do not carry the custodia by the glass capsule or the lunette. Do not place it on a seat or a shelf where it can roll. Before the next use, check that the lunette is secure and the glass is clean.
When to call a specialist
Call a specialist if the glass is cracked, the lunette no longer fits, the plating is worn through, the base is loose, or the vessel has been dropped. A repair is usually less expensive than replacing a damaged vessel, and a specialist can preserve the original finish. For ordinary cleaning, the habits above are enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I clean a gold-plated custodia?
A: Dust it with a soft, dry cloth; use a slightly damp cloth for fingerprints and dry immediately. Do not use silver polish, abrasive creams or scouring pads, and do not immerse the vessel in water.
Q: Can I use glass cleaner on the custodia?
A: Use a lens cloth and, if needed, a small amount of lens cleaning solution on the cloth. Avoid spraying cleaner directly on the glass or metal, and avoid ammonia-based cleaners.
Q: How should I store the lunette?
A: Keep the lunette in its own case, handle it by the frame, and store it in a dry place. Label the case if you have more than one lunette.
Q: Can I carry the custodia by the glass capsule?
A: No. Carry it by the base and stem, or use a padded case. The glass capsule and lunette are the most fragile parts.
Q: When should I have the custodia re-plated?
A: When the gold plating is worn through, the surface is uneven, or the vessel has been damaged. Have it restored by a specialist who works with sacred vessels; do not attempt a DIY re-plating.
Related reading
See our guide to storing sacred vessels, what a lunette is, and custodia vs ciborium. Browse custodias.
