SO polished

Watch this video:

www.marthastewart.com/912166/collecting-brass-candlesticks

Whenever there's a person who collects 18th century candlesticks, the brass or bronze or copper is so shiny it looks new. What's up with that? In many other instances, a patina is desired and leaving the item be, whatever it is, is considered proper for its value. Except silver, but brass isn't exactly the same thing.

There are many other antique-related videos at marthastewart.com.

 

Every time I watched the Antiques Roadshow from England, it showed them polishing things to a bright shine. When I watched the American version, the experts would say don't polish too much because buyers want patina. Martha Stewart caters to the nouveau riche who collect to impress each other, not because they love antiques IMHO

 

Personally I think patina is fine, as long as the item remains functional: think oil lamps, clocks, etc. Also, there's a fine line between damage and patina.
A candlestick that was originally golden, patinated black isn't really showing dignity to the original design. However as a decorative piece it can have different kind of value even if it's in bad condition and patinated. Such a difficult topic to come to a conclusion about.

 

Exactly. That's why I always say, if you are keeping it, do what makes you happy. If you plan to sell it, don't do much. A soft touch with a sunshine cloth to get grime off won't hurt the patina.

 

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The only thing that should have patina is bronze. And even that should be wiped down occasionally so there are highlights.
Silver and brass should be polished.

No proper lady would want her guests to look at tarnished items.
Let alone serve tea in a service with so called patina(tarnish), For Shame!

 

There is polishing and there is polishing.

When I get silver I polish it lightly with a foaming polish. That removes tarnish and cleans it up, it does not shine it up like new and I would never want to do that! JMHO

 

That's what I thought. Well, sort of. Especially gilded brass should be kept looking as close to its original condition as possible.

Even if it's not gilded, how often does any of you remember looking at brass hardware tarnished brown on a piece of furniture, thinking: that's beautiful.
There's a place and time for different degrees of polishing. A difficult subject as I said.

 

Exactly.

 

We have an antique bureau with gorgeous rosettes. No one in my husband's family had polished them in over 80 years - or more. I took them off, polished them gently and replaced them. It's lovely now

 

Silver, bronze, brass, whatever it is - I polish it. Polishing brass and silver was a VERY common preoccupation during the Victorian era - They haven't been manufacturing BRASSO for over 100 years for nothing! I honestly don't hold any stock in the belief that polishing brass or silver devalues it, provided you polish it carefully, and sparingly.

 

Just to reiterate something I posted to a different thread a while back, NO respectable housewife would have ANYTHING unpolished, be it silver, copper, pewter, brass, etc. From pots to chandeliers, it all got polished (by the housewife if there were no servants)..................and leather was "seasoned", curtains were stretched and starched, linens were blued and pressed, iron was oiled, stoves were blackened, knife blades were de-rusted, drawers were lined with sachets changed twice a year...........................to do otherwise was slatternly and definitely "trashy"

If I can locate it, I'll post a copy of "job description" that my Grandmother had written up for the kitchen maid.....................and the poor girl only made about $1 week with room, board and laundry found.

 

I rest my case.