polished pieces:
keeping polished brass shiny / getting rid of fingerprints / repolishing:
if your pieces tend to darken to a deeper golden tone, we advise the use of „nevr-dull“ wadding or „autosol“ polishing paste - available at hardware stores or bikeshops. following the instructions of the product will keep all the brass surfaces perfectly shiny for months.
polishing paste (deep stains, all over darkening): with gloves, spread a small amount of polishing paste on the area that you’d like to republish. let sit for a short while and then gently rub it off in circular motion.
“nevr-dull” wadding (minor stains or plated objects): this cotton candy like polishing wadding helps to remove minor stains - we especially advise to use it on plated brass as it is less abrasive than polishing paste. use a tiny amount of the wadding with gloves and gently rub the affected areas. wipe off with a clean cotton towel.
please note that the polishing paste should not touch any wooden, leather, horn or caned parts.
in general - the effect of aging is wanted if it is pure „time patina“ i.e. even grading darker of polished areas.
fingerprints: our objects are made to be touched - but human touch includes salty sweat. if applied on polished surfaces, the traces are permanent and become deeper after time. therefore fingerprints should be removed with a soft cloth immediately. also in this, we advise using polishing paste to remove the stains. follow the instructions to remove the fingerprints.
in tropical climates it may be advisable to also use polishing paste like „autosol“ or similar brass polishing products. follow the instructions and avoid applying of polishing pastes on the sensible patina areas of the objects. always work with rubber or cotton gloved hands.
patinated pieces:
oiling and maintaining the patina
in order to fix the maybe matte, even dusty looking colour of the surface and make the pieces ́ skin look deep and rich, we use and advise to use linseed oil (nonedible quality). the nature of the oil should be lightly honey coloured and liquid.
use a soft cotton cloth – apply only a few drops to the pieces by dabbing softly - until the piece is shinily oiled. please make sure not to rub the pieces - patina skin is delicate and thin and might rub off. as the polished planes are polished with paraffine addings, minimal wax residue might remain. these can be also wiped off with a soft cloth.
if the piece has taken on an overall oily gloss, take another larger and clean piece of cotton with both of your hands and cradle the piece in your hands in order to remove excess oil. please note, that wiping should always be done sensibly - avoid rubbing. the shiny gloss is now reduced to a beautiful deep colour.
please pay attention to not oiling the polished surfaces. remove oil traces immediately by gently rubbing it off in circling movements, before traces dry up.
stocking / collecting objects:
we ́d higly advise you to retreat your stored pieces after some time as advised. the thin oil layers and the colorless paraffin on polished surfaces are volatile especially in hot climate. giving the pieces treatment from time to time enhances their appearance.
polished pieces or polished areas on pieces hold the high gloss for approximately 1.5 years in average humid areas. after that, they should be treated with “nevr-dull” wadding or polishing paste regularly - unless you prefer the aged look.
in general, never use water on any of our pieces - it is an oxidant and will stain and darken brass unevenly.
exceptions:
how to care for your brass ashtray: ashtrays should be cleaned after use with a damp soapy rag or paper towel; wiped dry and re - oiled or polished with „nevr dull“ or another polishing paste.
how to care for your brass watering can: watering cans should be wiped on the outside with a soft cloth after each use – the patination on the inside cannot be prevented.
each piece is made and finished by hand and therefore one of a kind.
care instructions: brass
nickel plated surface treatment
hints for treatment to maintain and enhance the beauty of our brass products:
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never use polishing paste like brass or autos on the matte nickel plating. the paste contains polishing particles that might disturb the overall matte effect.
we advise to only clean the pipes from time to time with alcohol based window cleaner with a soft cotton cloth.
if the pieces are in heavy use or heavily stained, we advise to use “nevr dull” wadding from time to time. please note that this method should only be used from time to time as even this smooth cleaner contains abrasives and may cause damage to the surface if used too often.
for a less abrasive cleaning process, we’d suggest natural soap on a soft cotton pad.
residues of all cleaners described before have to be wiped off completely after care.
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for glossy nickel plated items, the same care instructions apply.
nickel plated brass
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nickel plating on to of the brass core helps keeping off the usual patination of brass, that turns the brass surface dark.
this plating enables also to use the items / hooks in humid indoor spaces such as bathrooms etc.
horn is a natural material that can become brittle and cracked when exposed to external influences such as heat, cold or moisture.
how to care for your horn objects:
please never leave your horn objects on wet surfaces, heaters or in direct sunlight.
clean horn with lukewarm water and mild soap. rinse and dry with a soft cloth.
regular oiling protects horn from drying out and maintains its shine. we recommend almond oil as horn care oil due to its high quality fatty acids and neutral fragrance.
spread a little almond oil evenly on the horn with a soft cloth and leave to soak overnight. remove any excess the next day with a soft cloth.
for objects, that are used frequently (combs, salad servers, egg spoons, etc.), it is advisable to treat them regularly.
use your comb regularly - this will allow your horn piece to stay alive!
do not share combs: as with toothbrushes, combs can carry microbes and transmit them. in order to preserve the balance of healthy hair, it is best to have your very own horn comb.
keep your comb in a leather case: a leather case protects the comb from shocks or falls - but also from drying out and sudden temperature differences.
please note that horn products are not dishwasher safe.
each piece is made and finished by hand and therefore one of a kind.
care instructions:
horn products
we use vegetable-tanned leather as well as fine nappa leather with its origins in italy for our leather objects.
how to care for your leather objects:
please never leave your leather objects on wet surfaces, heaters or in direct sunlight.
vegetable-tanned leather (which is used for our magazine racks) can be cleaned with leather soap. rub the soap onto the leather in circular motion with a damp sponge. then wipe off the foam with a clean sponge or cloth.
alternatively, you can use foam cleaners: collect foam with a sponge and massage it into the leather. leave to work in and remove the excess with a clean cloth.
after cleaning, treat the leather with leather grease or leather balm. use a sponge for this and work the care product into the leather using circular movements. this will give the leather a nice shine and prevent it from drying out.
pigmented nappa leather (used for the chess board bottom side) absorbs less than vegetable-tanned leather. here we recommend using a leather balm from the brand “solitaire”: it has a more viscous consistency, which allows the ingredients to penetrate deep into the leather while leaving a protective film on the surface. wiping it off and polishing the leather will leave a beautiful shine.
each piece is made and finished by hand and therefore one of a kind.
care instructions: leather products
as cane is an organic product, we advise against the use of aggressive, chemical cleaning agents.
how to care for your caned objects (bookends, paper knifes, letter opener):
please never clean your caned objects with water or other liquids - simply dust the caning (if needed) with a soft brush or cotton cloth.
each piece is made and finished by hand and therefore one of a kind.
care instructions: caned products
as wood is an organic product, we advise against the use of aggressive, chemical cleaning agents.
how to care for your wooden objects:
please only use natural, food safe products (especially when cleaning wooden objects like cutting boards or other objects that get in contact with food) for the care and cleaning of wooden products.
it is usually sufficient to wipe the objects with a dry cotton cloth and if desired to oil them from time to time with a dab of linseed oil or any other food-safe oil.
each piece is made and finished by hand and therefore one of a kind.
care instructions: wooden products
we hope all important questions were evenly covered so you can treat the pieces in question. nothing can be done wrong if you follow above instructions – if you need more info please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
please make sure that these instructions are shared with the responsible staff in your gallery/shop so customers can be advised on how to care for the products. In general, all our pieces were designed to be not only looked at but to be loved and touched too. this is the reason for them to take on an owner orientated patina together with the patina surface that was basically artisanal created in our workshop.
like wood, metal or leather - brass is an organic material that will age well and patinate with time. the appearance of our products will darken and develop its own patina as it ages; this is a natural character and result of loving use. If carefully looked after and cared for – every auboeck piece represents then a unique part of the owners life.