STORIES
Bronze, aged iron and the darker brass finishes
Everything we make is solid brass. Our first finish, unlacquered polished brass, was where Studio Ore started. Now we have many more, and our darker tones are still solid brass, all the way through. But they’ve been chemically treated for a different kind of beauty. They might appeal to kitchens and bathrooms that want fittings to stand out, or totally blend in.
Bronze
It’s brass, transformed. The process is called chemical patination. Brass components are cleaned, then hand-dipped in a solution of potassium sulphides, a compound called liver of sulphur, used for centuries by metalworkers. It’s mixed fresh for each batch, as the solution degrades within hours.
Sulphur reacts with the copper in the brass to form copper sulphide; a rich, dark brown surface. And the depth of colour depends on how long the piece is submerged, temperature, and even the angle it's dipped at.
Left unlacquered, our bronze finish continues to evolve. The brass beneath will gradually show on the parts touched most, telling the story of your home. Opt for lacquered if you want the look to hold.
Aged Iron
A treatment even darker than bronze, it has a cooler, gunmetal tone. Aged iron uses the same hand-dipping process as bronze, the brass underneath is unchanged. It's a surface reaction. Like bronze, you can have this finish unlacquered (living) and lacquered (fixed). If unlacquered, the brass gradually reasserts itself, softening the iron tones in the parts most used.
Aged Brass
A different kind of treatment. We’ve accelerated the ageing process of polished brass so it arrives warm and characterful. You don’t have to wait for it to tarnish naturally. Aged brass also comes in lacquered and unlacquered, so you can see it gain even more character over time, or let it stay lightly patinated.
Unlacquered Tumbled Bronze
Tumbling is random, which is the idea. Components are placed in a vibratory bowl with small abrasive ceramic pieces and water. The bowl then vibrates at up to three thousand pulses per minute, where the metal and ceramics rub together for multiple hours. The result is a soft matte surface. Slightly irregular, like it has lived a life. It looks a certain way that polished and brushed finishes never will. Tumbled bronze will continue to evolve. The surface will darken further, and warm undertones will emerge in areas of contrast.
Darker brass finishes in situ
They’re a focal point in light interiors. They draw the eye. Think a lacquered bronze fitting against imperfect off-white zellige tiles. Or, these finishes easily slot into an already dark scheme. Over time giving off a deep amber glow as it patinates. Maybe it’s unlacquered aged brass against a deep green wall, only looking better as time goes on.
Our darker finishes also work alongside natural materials. Wood, stone, marble, even sunlight.
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