Hey everyone, I need some advice on a vintage brass lamp I recently purchased. I've got the rewiring done, but the brass was quite tarnished, so I used a Bistro brass cleaner according to the instructions. However, the results have been really uneven. Now I'm worried that I might have damaged the finish completely. I believe it's solid brass and not just brass plated, but some areas look really pale and uneven after my attempts to clean it. I uploaded a few pictures for reference: https://imgur.com/a/Nd5uVkB. Any thoughts on whether I've ruined it or if there's a way to fix this? Thanks a lot!
3 Answers
Just a heads up, sometimes these old lamps might have had a clear coat applied, which can interfere with how your cleaner works. If that's the case, the areas that didn't clean well might still have that coating on them. It's totally understandable to feel bummed; cleaning antiques can be tricky. You might want to ease off on the brass cleaner and try balancing it with a vinegar solution—just be careful not to overdo it!
Some folks really prefer the look of a well-aged patina over shiny brass, so if you're fighting the good fight against tarnish but it's not going well, you shouldn’t stress too much. Just let the piece be, add a little cleaning here and there when you can, and over time it’ll develop that lovely aged look you're after. You might find it sounds better, too!
Got it! I think I need to change my cleaning approach. Appreciate the advice!
It sounds like your lamp might actually be brass plated rather than solid brass. A quick way to check is to use a magnet; if it sticks, then you’re looking at plated steel. If it doesn’t, you’re in the clear. But if it is solid brass, maybe consider that a bit of patina can actually enhance the character of antique metals. You might want to try a cleaning method with vinegar, salt, and flour—I've found that works wonders!
I did the magnet test and it didn't stick, so it should be solid brass! Maybe I did take too much of the tarnish off, though.
Thanks for the suggestion! I'm definitely worried about causing more damage. I’ll try the vinegar method but will proceed cautiously.