Despite the rave reviews and photos by previous purchasers, I was surprised at how beautiful, well-made, and large this set is. But I noticed that the pear and apple felt a little dirty, so I gently washed them with a cotton cloth and a little Dawn dissolved in water, rinsed them carefully under the faucet, and dried them with a soft cotton cloth. They were beautiful before; now they're just stunning. I've got them sitting on a ledge in a large open "window" between my kitchen and dining room where they get a lot of sunlight. They reflect the sunlight from their mirrored surfaces and light up my kitchen and dining room. This is one of the few times in my life when I feel that I've received more than I paid for.