STORIES
What is a living finish?
A living finish is raw brass, left unlacquered. It's designed to age well, gaining character over time. The surface evolves. A patina develops. No two pieces are identical. Living finishes gradually reveal the natural brass on edges worn by human touch. Something to live with.
Patination occurs as the unlacquered brass reacts to the environment around it. Brass is an alloy made of copper and zinc. The copper reacts with oxygen. A film of cuprous oxide forms on the surface, gradually deepening. When there's moisture in the air, which there always is, the reaction continues. The surface darkens in places, lightens in others. Brass patina acts as a protective layer, sealing the surface beneath. It's not damage, just chemistry. And chemistry we can't control.
Our living finishes
Each of our living finishes begins as unlacquered polished brass. It's the finish we started with. Then, depending on which you've chosen, the piece is either dipped, brushed, tumbled, or plated. A different look, still a living finish.
If you wait long enough, some living finishes will eventually return to their original polished brass state. Bronze, for example, is dipped for a dark brown tone. With time, the brass's golden tones will subtly shine through on the parts touched most. Its look softens and feels natural. But each is unique. Every living finish ages in its own way.
