The Beauty of Unlacquered Brass

One of the most underappreciated materials in the design industry is the timeless, and gorgeous unlacquered brass. With our products being reproductions of historical pieces, an unlacquered brass finish gives each piece an effortless and ageless beauty as it develops a golden patina over time.

Unlacquered brass is strong, durable and can last for decades with the proper care. Hopefully this post will shed a bit of light on why unlacquered brass may be your golden ticket for new designs this year!

So, what is it? Unlacquered brass is brass that has had it's protective coating stripped. Often described as a "living" finish, the initial polished appearance of brass will mature and change color over time, giving the hardware a classic antique look.

(On left: Unlacquered Brass, On right: Unlacquered brass that has developed a patina)

The reason the finish changes over time is due to the oxidation from the air. With door hardware specifically, these changes will also occur from the natural oils on your hands. With lacquered brass, there is a thin coating of lacquer applied to the brass to protect it from oxidizing and developing a patina.

A huge design benefit of unlacquered brass is that the finish is universal, so all pieces ordered will have a similar appearance. True, authentic unlacquered brass will have a beautiful, natural patina that gives any room a special touch that no manufacturing process can compete with.

Once you're ready to put that polished shine back on your hardware, bring it back to us here at Charleston Hardware Co.! Our restoration specialists will restore your hardware back to brand new.

Doorknocker with patina over time... After our restoration...

Unlacquered brass is the design trend you won't regret buying this year, or years to come. Check out our website or visit our showroom to see our gorgeous fine brass selection in person!