Patina Care for Metal Furniture
When buying metal furniture, you’re also buying its long lifespan. Metal pieces are durable and with the right care, metal furniture can last for decades, evolving over the years as your family lives with it.
What is Patina?
Patina is a general term that you often hear used in metalworking, and metal furniture in particular. Basically, it describes the metal’s appearance over time as it interacts with the space it lives in.
Patina is the exposure of metal furniture to the elements, where the metal gets oxidized and forms a rich antique look. When done right, patina can give metal furniture a distinguished appearance that many designers and furniture owners find appealing. In short, patina shows character.
Metal furniture can sometimes be given an “instant age” by the metalworker, through the application of chemicals that react with the surface of the metal.
How to Care for Your Metal Furniture
Over time, metal darkens as it oxidizes and comes into contact with other trace elements in the air. Much like silver, metal also requires polishing to return to a brilliant mirror finish. Some owners will relish the signature that evolves as a pattern of life interacts with the furniture. In these instances, the table surface will have various marks and uneven tones. Other owners will prefer a polished and clean look. In that case, a metal cleaning solvent can be applied with a cloth.
How to Gain a Rich Patina
Patinating agents put an instant age on metal, to varying degrees. More robust finishes are applied with a torch and spray bottle as the chemicals react more intensely with heated metal. Other chemicals simply brown or darken the metal and are applied with a cloth.
If you’re playing the long game and want patina to form organically on your metal furniture, use it in whichever way is natural for you; touch it, set down drinks without a coaster underneath, place books and plants on it, allow pets to walk on the furniture, just as you would a glass table. To clean, just wipe away dust and moisture but don’t use any chemicals.
Learn More About Caring for Metal Furniture
To learn more about caring for metal furniture pieces—and that includes ensuring a rich patina—please contact Doud Studios. We design and forge custom metal furniture, and are always happy to talk with you about your furniture maintenance. Contact Doud Studios today.