What is Antique Brass?

Antique brass is a term used to describe a finish which may appear on any metal item, most often a decorative household item. Brass is actually an alloy, or combination, of metals. Solid brass is 67% copper and 33% zinc. The natural finish of polished brass is shiny. To the contrary, an antique brass finish appears worn with time, is darker than natural brass, and absorbs more light than it reflects.

Antique brass finish is most often applied to new products to make them appear aged. It is a popular finish for door hardware, lamps, and light fixtures, because many homeowners prefer antique brass to polished brass in their décor, especially if they are trying to avoid a modern look.

An item does not have to be made of solid brass for it to have the look of antique brass. In fact, many newly manufactured items with antique brass finishes are not made of solid brass. Similarly, there are many specialty paints on the market that can be used to achieve a faux antique brass finish on nearly any metal item. A homeowner can easily give a light fixture or door hardware the look of antique brass with a spray-on specialty paint. It is not recommended that faux-finish paint be used on an item that is handled frequently or exposed to water.

One of the best things about antique brass from a decorating prospective is that is much easier to mix and match items with other finishes and styles. Carefully chosen antique brass pieces will blend in with a room of almost any style or color scheme. Consumers can purchase new items such as kitchen and bathroom faucets, cabinet hinges and door hardware, light fixtures, lamp bases, candle holders, picture frames, and more in antique brass finishes. This makes it easy to coordinate a room or match an heirloom that truly is an antique brass item.