Brassware is the general term for household and decorative objects made of brass, the golden alloy of copper and zinc. It includes candlesticks, chambersticks, fenders, fire irons, kettles, trays, jardinières, warming pans, door furniture, bells, lamps and a wide range of other domestic and ornamental items.
Brass was used in Europe for centuries, and much early brassware in England was imported from the Low Countries and Germany. Domestic brass production grew from the late seventeenth century, and by the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Bristol and especially Birmingham were major centres, supplying everything from cabinet handles to lighting. Antique candlesticks illustrate how techniques changed: many eighteenth-century examples were cast in two vertical halves joined along the stem, while many Victorian sticks have a push-up mechanism for removing candle stubs. The Arts and Crafts movement brought a revival of hand-raised and hammered brass. Collectors look for weight, quality of casting, original construction and an attractive, gently worn colour. Over-polishing, heavy modern lacquer and later reproductions made from old patterns are common pitfalls. Polished or left to mellow, antique brassware brings warmth to fireplaces, dressers and dining tables.
