Most brass sold for the home is lacquered — sealed under a clear coat so it stays
bright in a shop. It works until the coat wears through, and then it flakes, and there is no
fixing it without stripping the whole piece.
The alternative
Unlacquered brass is left bare. It oxidises. Over months it moves from bright yellow
through a warm gold to a deep amber, faster where hands touch it. There is nothing to fail,
because there is no coating.
If you want it bright again
Any brass polish, or half a lemon and a spoonful of salt, and two minutes of rubbing. It
comes back completely. Then it starts over.
Living with it
The one thing worth knowing: fingerprints show early and then stop showing, because the
whole surface catches up. The awkward stage lasts a few weeks. After that it looks
deliberate.