When refinishing an antique iron bed, there are few things that can “make” or “break” the look of the finished job more than how you treat the brass.
Nearly 50% of all the iron beds that were being produced back in the 1800’s, had some accent of brass on them. This brass was not without a distinct purpose. In the early 1800’s brass beds were quite popular and the fledgling iron bed market was desperately trying to get it’s foot in the door. By adding a little brass to their more decorative and scrolled beds, they had hoped to draw those people the way may have otherwise only considered buying an all brass bed.
The beauty of these beds was that they were more adaptable to different settings, because of their ability to have been painted in any color, hue , or tone……light or dark. As is the same case with their extreme popularity today.
Back to refinishing………..Ask yourself this question……..Why would you want the beautiful old bed you just had refinished with an authentic antique old faux’ finish, to have polished brass? Think about it. If your antique bed has been distressed to look old and weathered…..what could have possibly happened to the brass to have kept it looking brand new? Look at the photo on this blog. Which version of brass looks more appropriate on the twin bed? The polished or distressed brass? If you say the polished…… maybe you should consider getting a new reproduction bed, instead of an original old antique bed. Brass ages……. it’s a natural process, just like people. So to put perfectly polished brass on an antique bed…….. well, it just doesn’t fit.
