“last but Not Least” - Examination and Interpretation of Coatings on Brass Hardware. 1991

Introduction It has long been understood that the oxidation of metals can be inhibited by the application of protective coatings made from oils, waxes and resins. These coatings act as barriers which limit the metal’s exposure to the environment. Painters’ and cabinetmakers’ references and guidebooks from the last two centuries document a wide variety of recipes for formulating protective metal coatings. As the titles of many of these recipes suggest, the coatings often had an aesthetic function as well as a practical one. With the addition of various dyes to the formula, a coating applied to a baser metal could enhance its appearance by making it look more like gold.