Generally referring to items made from iron, brass or copper such as household decorative items. Age is distinguished by corrosion, wear and particularly patination (a darkened glossy surface which comes principally from handling). Patina adds to the beauty, character, authenticity and value of any metal item and in no cases should it be modified or removed. Many metal items had chemically induced patination applied at manufacture. To remove this may strip the item of it value.

To clean, remove any dust with a soft brush taking care not to scratch the item (metals such as copper are relatively soft and scratch easily). Loosen ingrained dirt with luke-warm soft or distilled water charged with a small amount of mild liquid soap. Remove with a damp cloth and dry immediately with a lint free cloth. Avoid the use of abrasive materials such as normal metal polish or sand paper; even the finest abrasives may destroy patina or induce unwanted corrosion. If corrosion needs to be removed consult a recognized metal conservator. Pieces can be waxed with a suitable polish or protective agent but use sparingly and remove any wax residues. Wax residues attract dust, can be hard to remove and can be corrosive. Should you wish to polish, do so by hand with good gentle brass and copper polish, using soft materials such as cotton wool to apply and a soft cloth to remove.

A lacquer coating does no harm and can preserve the shine for a few years. However, this should be a personal choice and is more suitable for some items than others. Professional help should be sought for this process.