Slow Design: THE allure of age & PATINA IN COLLECTIBLES
A medley of vintage metal creates a glow from the patina
What is Patina?
Whenever I find something brass or silver at a thrift store or estate sale, the first thing I notice is the patina—for me, the more the better. I’m always drawn to metal pieces with a worn look, as if they’d been made in the hands of many, leading to age spots and discoloration on the surfaces. I can spot a newbie collector at first sight if they ask in suspicion if a metal is in “good condition”. I’m always stumped by this question—to me, as a vintage lover, good condition is filled with blemishes that give the piece that extra layer of charm. This is the beauty of collecting the old and feeling its story.
Before going any further, let’s get into what patina means. In the design world, I like to think of this word as meaning an object that has become beautiful over age; a piece that has a warm glow or an aged surface. When I refer to old pieces with a beautiful patina, this can mean objects or furniture made from metals, wood, or leather. Anything that changes color with age showcases a patina effect. This is often caused by many people over time who touched an object or used it for function. When this happens, you can see the allure of the piece’s age. For instance, an aged wood piece will get darker and show more grain, and, in my opinion, more charm. Leather, on the other hand, becomes softer, darkens, creases, and folds. For metals, they show streaks and spots of earthier tones.
Pair of Ralph Lauren Leather Club Chairs: BeastInteriors.com
But why does patina occur in the first place? In a more precise scientific definition, patina refers to the oxidation of metals that causes the surface of the metal to have a greenish or brownish film. The less you polish your metals, the more beautiful the patina will become over time.
Copper Fireplace Hood
When I recently designed my coach house, I had an existing stone fireplace that was worn with time and had no usage. I don’t believe a mantel was ever made for the fireplace because it was originally utilitarian and only used to warm the space for workers. So, I decided to breathe life into this old fireplace and create a show-stopping Arts and Crafts style hood made from copper. A metal artisan cut and molded the hood above the stone which resembles the glory days of the Arts and Crafts movement (1860-1920s) when there was a return to hand craftsmanship. My fireplace still sparkles with new copper, but I’m anxiously awaiting for the patina to start giving the metal that warmth of an old-time feel.
In the 80s and 90s, there was a trend for brass and copper with an array of bluish-green tones. We called this patina a “verdigris” finish. The greener the metal, the more “patina” effect there was. This was popular because of the resurgence of an Art Nouveau style in those decades. Some companies sold pieces with a fake patina to give the piece this look of age.
Verdigris patina iron chair from the 1980s, purchased at a recent estate sale
To me, watching something become rich in color over time, or have an aged look is the beauty of embracing slow design. Patina won’t happen overnight, but the more you use something, the more sumptuous the object will become.
*PRO TIP: If you’re too impatient (that makes two of us) to wait for the changes to happen over time, and you need that rustic charm immediately, you can soak your object in salted vinegar. The process will speed up and in no time, you will have the look of a worn piece!
If you want to embrace slow design and patina in your home, here’s how I can help:
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