Brass Is Back … Although We’re Not Sure It Ever Really Left

Walk through almost any beautifully layered room right now and chances are, somewhere in it, you'll find a little glimmer of brass.

A pair of candlesticks on the mantel. A tiny brass duck tucked between cookbooks. An old tray holding perfume bottles. A lamp with just enough age on it to make you wonder where it's been.

Brass is having a moment.

Of course, here at Magnolia, we might argue that it never really went anywhere. Vintage brass has warmth. It catches the light without screaming for attention, plays beautifully with wood, glass, pottery and textiles, and, perhaps best of all, doesn't need to match anything.

In fact, we'd prefer that it didn't.

The Secret Is in the Layering

The easiest way to decorate with vintage brass is to stop thinking of it as a "brass collection." Instead, think of it as one of the layers that makes a room feel collected over time.

In the Kitchen

Kitchens are surprisingly wonderful places for brass. Try a small brass candlestick beside a stack of cookbooks, a vintage brass bowl filled with lemons, or a quirky brass animal perched on an open shelf.

A brass tray can corral olive oil and salt near the stove or hold pretty bottles on a bar cart. And don't be afraid to mix brass with copper, silver, stainless steel or black iron. The days of every metal finish in the house having to match are thankfully behind us. A collected home is much more interesting.

On the Mantel

If you're just beginning to experiment with brass, the mantel may be the easiest place to start. Vintage candlesticks are practically foolproof. Find two, three or five in different heights and shapes. Add an old painting or mirror, a stack of books, greenery and perhaps one unexpected object.

And here's an important Magnolia rule:

They do not have to match.

Actually, we think they're usually better when they don't. Different heights, different ages and slightly different shades of brass give a mantel the layered, collected-over-time look that makes a room feel personal.

In the Bedroom

Brass can make a bedroom feel quietly luxurious. Try a small brass tray on the dresser for jewelry and perfume, candlesticks on a nightstand, a vintage brass picture frame or an old brass lamp. One of our favorite styling tricks is mixing brass with softer materials like linen, velvet, worn wood, old books and vintage florals.

That little bit of shine against something soft or weathered is where the magic happens.

And Everywhere Else...

This is where vintage shopping gets fun.

Brass bookends in the office. A brass bowl on the coffee table. A little brass horse on a bookshelf. An umbrella stand in the entryway. Vintage bells, boxes, trays, planters, figurines, frames, lamps and all manner of wonderfully unnecessary objects.

Because sometimes a room doesn't need another useful thing. Sometimes it needs a tiny brass pheasant.

We don't make the rules.

But Is It Really Brass?

Ah, the thrift-store question. You've spotted something fabulous. It's heavy. It's golden. It's $8.

Is it actually brass?

There are a few tricks that can help.

Try a magnet. Solid brass isn't magnetic. If a strong magnet sticks firmly to the piece, you're probably looking at brass plating over another metal rather than solid brass. But don't automatically put it back! Brass-plated vintage pieces can still be beautiful and absolutely worth bringing home.

Check the scratches and worn spots. Look underneath or around edges where the finish may have worn away. If you see a silvery metal beneath the gold color, it's likely plated. If the color remains golden underneath, solid brass is more likely.

Pick it up. Solid brass generally has some heft to it. It often feels surprisingly substantial for its size.

Look for age. Older brass may have darkened areas, spotting, oxidation or an uneven finish. That's not necessarily damage. In many cases, it's exactly what vintage lovers are looking for.

And remember: you don't need a museum-quality antique for it to be worthy of your home. If it's beautiful, affordable and makes you happy when you look at it, that's a pretty good test too.

Now the Controversial Question: Should You Polish It?

Maybe.

How's that for helpful?

The truth is, whether you should polish vintage brass depends largely on the piece, and on what you love. Some people adore bright, gleaming brass. Others want every darkened crevice and bit of patina left exactly where decades put it.

We're firmly in the there's-room-for-both camp.

If a piece has developed a gorgeous, mellow patina, consider leaving it alone. That aging adds depth and character that you simply can't manufacture overnight. Patina can also be desirable on genuinely old or collectible pieces, so if you suspect you've found something valuable, do a little research before attacking it with polish.

On the other hand, sometimes what's covering your thrift-store treasure isn't charming patina. Sometimes it's just grime.

Start gently. Use warm water, a little mild dish soap and a soft cloth. Dry the piece thoroughly afterward. You may discover that's all it needed.

If you've determined that the piece is solid brass and you want more shine, a brass-specific polish can bring back that gorgeous golden glow. Always follow the product directions, test an inconspicuous area first, and be especially careful with plated pieces, you can polish right through a thin brass finish.

And before you polish anything old, ask yourself one question: Do I actually like it better shiny? Because "old" isn't something we necessarily need to fix.

The Best Brass Isn't Perfect

Perhaps that's why we're loving brass so much right now. It works in a traditional home, a modern one, a cottage, a maximalist room or a clean neutral space. One little vintage brass object can instantly make a brand-new room feel as though it has a story. And you don't need twenty pieces.

Start with one.

The next time you're wandering through Magnolia, look for a brass candlestick that isn't quite like any of the others. Pick up the funny little animal. Check the bottom of that old bowl. Look behind the things on the shelf.

Then take it home and tuck it into something you already have.

A stack of books.
A framed photograph.
A vase of flowers.
A favorite painting.
A candle.

That's how a home becomes layered. Not by buying an entire room at once, but by collecting little pieces of beauty along the way.

And if one of those pieces happens to be a tiny brass pheasant?

Even better.

Come wander the booths at Magnolia Antiques & Home Interiors and see what brass treasures our dealers have tucked away. Just remember: vintage inventory changes constantly, so if you love it, don't leave it behind. Someone else may love that tiny brass pheasant, too.