keeping polished brass shiny / getting rid of fingerprints / repolishing:

all brass pieces tend to darken to a deeper golden tone. we advise the use of „nevr-dull“ wadding or „autosol“ polishing paste - available at hardware stores or bikeshops. following the instructions on the product will keep all the brass surfaces perfectly shiny for months.

polishing paste (deep stains, all over darkening): with gloves, spread a small amount of polishing paste on the area that you’d like to republish. let it sit for a short while and then gently rub it off in circular motion with a cotton cloth.

“nevr-dull”wadding (minor stains or plated objects): this cotton ball like polishing wadding helps to remove minor stains. we especially advise to also use it on plated brass as it is less abrasive than polishing paste. use a tiny amount of the wadding with gloves and gently rub the affected areas. wipe off with a clean, soft cotton cloth. avoid using paper towels.

please note that the polishing paste / wadding should not touch any wooden, leather, horn or caned parts.

in general - the effect of aging is wanted if it is pure „time patina“ i.e. even grading darker of polished areas.

fingerprints: our objects are made to be touched - but human touch includes salty sweat. if applied on polished surfaces, the traces become permanent and deepen after time. therefore fingerprints should be removed with a soft cloth immediately. also in this, we advise using polishing paste to remove the stains. follow the instructions above to remove the fingerprints.

in tropical climates it might be advisable to also use polishing paste like „autosol“ or similar brass polishing products. follow the instructions and avoid applying of polishing pastes on the sensible patina areas of the objects. always work with rubber or cotton gloved hands.

oiling and maintaining the patina

in order to fix the maybe matte, even dusty looking colour of the surface and make the pieces ́ skin look deep and rich, we use and advise to use linseed oil (nonedible quality). the nature of the oil should be lightly honey coloured and liquid.

use a soft cotton cloth – apply only a few drops to the pieces by dabbing softly - until the piece is shinily oiled. please make sure not to rub the pieces - patina skin is delicate and thin and might rub off. as the polished planes are polished with paraffine addings, minimal wax residue might remain. these can be also wiped off with a soft cloth.

as the piece has taken on an overall oily gloss, take another larger and clean piece of cotton with both of your hands and cradle the piece in your hands in order to remove excess oil. please note, that wiping should always be done sensibly - avoid rubbing. the shiny gloss is now reduced to a beautiful deep colour.

please pay attention to not oiling the polished surfaces. remove oil traces immediately by gently rubbing it off in circling movements, before traces dry up.

stocking / collecting objects:

we ́d higly advise you to retreat your stored pieces after some time as advised. the thin oil layers and the colorless paraffin on polished surfaces are volatile especially in hot climate. giving the pieces treatment from time to time enhances their appearance.

please never use water on any of our pieces - it is an oxidant and will stain and darken brass unevenly.

exceptions:

how to care for your brass ashtray: ashtrays should be cleaned after use with a damp soapy rag or paper towel; wiped dry and re - oiled or polished with „nevr dull“ or another polishing paste.

how to care for your brass watering can: watering cans should be wiped on the outside with a soft cloth after each use – the patination on the inside cannot be prevented.