Oh the allure of brass! It’s timeless appeal has captivated generations. But is your brass real? Or is just a pretty coating? Not everything that glitters in a store is brass! Some of us have learned this the hard way. Let me tell you how to distinguish between real brass and a fake metal with a pretty brass coating.
1. The MAGNET Test
Brass is non-magnetic. If a magnet clings tightly to the surface, it’s definitely not solid brass. It might be iron underneath that shiny coating. A small fridge magnet is a handy tool to carry while antique shopping. So is yours real? Grab a magnet and find out!
2. Check the Base
Flip the item. Solid brass shows a consistent golden hue, even on unpolished, rough areas. Look inside curves, bottoms of vessels, or joints. Brass-finished items often reveal darker or silvery patches underneath, especially where the finish wears off.
3. Scratch Test (only if safe to do):
A careful scratch on the underside (use a needle or coin) will show yellowish gold if it’s brass; silver or blackish grey if it’s not. Do this only on low-value items, or after permission.
On a humorous note, my maid at home loves taking her anger out on vessels, and if it’s a brass vessel, I get a free scratch test. This is an example of the maid scratch test. So tell me, is your brass real?
4. Colour Temperature:
Brass has a warm, mellow gold tone. Anything too shiny or cool-toned is likely not brass. Trust your eyes over polish! This one’s a bit difficult I know, because with all the lovely new finishes in the market, a mellow gold tone is quite doable. You could try this on brass handed down from generations. You will admit the colour is definitely worth sitting and staring at all day.
TIP FROM SHARON’S STUDIO
Never buy heavy brass solely based on weight.
Iron is heavy too!
Combine weight with the above tests for better accuracy.
What I am really saying is, if your brass looks mellow gold,
then combine it with the weight test -is it as heavy as it looks?
Then yes, your brass is real!
This is Part `1 of my mini series titled Oh my Brass! Keep an eye open for the sequels!
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Stay tuned for the next blog post on the Oh my Brass series! Ww talk about a simple brass cleaner you can whip up with traditional Indian ingredients. No preservatives from a satchet or messy tamarind paste.
Want to read up on some of our previous brass posts?
Here are some beautiful homes we have featured that have great brass collectibles!
