What does Dauby have in common with good wine? The answer lies in the ageing process; both products get better or more beautiful with age. But how?
If you’ve already heard the name Dauby, you will almost certainly be familiar with the concept of a living finish. Almost all our window, door and furniture fittings acquire a beautiful, characteristic patina and are a genuine must-have for your interior!
Patinas are a mine of information
That old door handle, the Wall Street bull, or the knob on your sweets cabinet; you can instantly see which materials age well or have been used frequently. You can see this because of the beautiful sheen and colour gradations which add a certain charm to the item concerned. After all, the older your product, the more authentic it becomes.
Not just Natural Bronze, but also Raw Metal, Rust, Aged Iron and Raw Bronze all have one thing in common; they live and will continue to develop a patina as long as they are used. This living finish, in turn, gives them a unique character. Using the material frequently will lead to the oxidation and colour gradations intensifying.
This interesting process of patination demonstrates that you have an authentic, natural product in your home. And just like other natural materials in your interior, such as leather and wood, this patina is an inherent part of the item’s appearance. Just think of that gorgeous Chesterfield, whose leather just continues to improve with age.
All our products can be used indoors and out. When choosing new door and furniture fittings, it’s important to know how the materials will evolve. All the materials will acquire different patinas over different time periods, depending on a range of factors.
A product that is used frequently will develop a patina quicker than a product that is rarely touched. Factors such as air humidity and the salt content in the air will also lead to different types of patina.
We will list the most attractive materials which offer this living finish so that you can get the most from them.
The various materials with a living finish
1. Natural Bronze (NB/LB) and Raw Bronze Polished (RBP)
Natural bronze (NB/LB), which initially offers a golden shine, will acquire a living finish with darker brown shading as time goes by. However, it will be polished and become lighter every time it is used. The more you touch the material, the quicker the shine will reappear!
With Raw Bronze Polished (RBP), the raw surface area of the unprocessed bronze is polished so that you create a stunning, luxurious bronze gloss. The colour will be very light to start with but will become more intense with use! You should expect matte, dark brown shades as your living finish.
Maintenance
Not a fan of the living finish? You can retain the original look really easily! Use a soft cloth and copper polish to rub the patina and restore the original shine.
2. Dark Bronze (DB) (AZ) and Green Bronze (GB)
Solid bronze is a red-coloured alloy of copper and tin, which acquires a brown oxidation layer and patina due to its reaction to oxygen; the Darker Bronze (AZ) is the corresponding result. If this is left to oxidise, we will end up with Green Bronze (VI).
The areas that are most exposed to oxygen will become darker and the bronze areas where there is greater use will become lighter. The darker shades of Dark Bronze will lighten where they are frequently touched.
It is possible, therefore, to see various types of living finish in one material.
Maintenance
Frequent usage will polish the material and the characteristic patina will emerge.
3. Raw bronze
This raw form of bronze offers warm, coppery shades. Using the product will give the raw surface a lighter, glossier look. The locations that are rarely touched, however, will become darker. A living finish you can’t say no to!
Frequent use will automatically polish the material. This means that Raw Bronze requires no maintenance.
4. Raw Metal
The alloy used for Raw Metal offers a dark grey, concrete-style, and industrial look. The material obtains its roughness due to processing after the sand-casting method: the casting residues are removed without further polishing. After frequent usage, the bronze will become naturally polished and a light gloss will be created.
Frequent use will give the Raw Metal a lighter sheen and glossy finish.
Raw Metal is rust-free so does not require a protective layer. Even cleaning is unnecessary; frequent use will automatically polish the material.
5. Aged Iron
Because Pure® endeavours to provide maintenance-free materials, a top quality, rust-free metal alloy has been developed, which offers the charming appearance of Aged Iron. Pure® creates a black lacquered layer using a process of electrolysis.
Although no coating is entirely scratch-proof, this technique ensures excellent adhesion.
Maintenance:
Over time, intensive use will leave its traces on the black lacquered layer on Aged Iron. There are no coatings tough enough to remain completely free of scratches forever. However, the imperfections are all part of the look! If you want to restore the original effect, you will need to restore the lacquer layer.
6. Rust
Rust is a natural product whereby cast iron is rusted, brushed and treated with a dark beeswax. Due to the fact that rusting is a natural process, the orange/brown colour and the rust effect, or the living finish, can vary. Pure charm, both before and after patination!
Maintenance:
Just like wood, fittings used in a damp environment (e.g. kitchen/bathroom) must be regularly maintained. A layer of wax forms a protective film which combats further oxidation.
Want to know more about the patination process on your favourite metal and the living finish? Contact our team. We will be glad to help you find the right effect for your window, door and furniture fittings!