Patina and Its Relationship to Antiques

It is a phrase uttered by any number of people interested in antiques, from professional resellers, collectors, and enthusiasts alike: "It has a beautiful patina," you might hear. But what does Patina mean in the case of antiques? If you're new to antique furniture, you may wonder why so many say that a patina to an antique is critical. But why?

What Is Patina?

The dictionary defines Patina as a green or brown film on the surface of bronze or similar metals, produced by oxidation over a long period, or a sheen or gloss to a surface of an item resulting from age or polishing, or the impression or appearance of something.

You may already be familiar with metal patina. A famous example is the light green film that forms on bronze and copper, and one well-known example is The Statue of Liberty, which was created from copper, with its signature green surface from the chemical compounds found in the air.

Defining the specifics to point to precisely what patina is can be difficult. In the world of antiques, especially antique furniture, Patina is used when referencing the finish on the surface of an antique piece. Antiques are not limited to furniture; they include many metal pieces that can garner a patina as they age.

When furniture is made, finished, sold, and rests within a home, it becomes exposed to the elements, wear, and use as it ages. The patina on furniture can appear as a toned, darker layer of finish or even a deepening of the wood color and grain over centuries.

Why Do So Many Collectors Talk About Patina?

For antique collectors and lovers worldwide, every piece of an antique tells its history and story, including its patina. Patina can tell an experienced eye about what materials were used to create a piece, how it was used in everyday life, the things it experienced, and how that use changed or transformed the piece into something more.

Patina is a vital aspect that brings a piece of furniture to life, distinguishing each piece as something unique. Even two pieces created by the same master cabinetry maker that appear similar can have differing patinas, making them appear quite different.

An experienced collector or even a beginner in the world of antiques, you will find yourself seeking pieces that seem almost alive due to their rich histories, stories held in dings and scratches, and their unique personalities through craftsmanship and time. A patina is the evidence of all these things.

Why Should I Seek Out A Patina?

One of the most significant reasons you should seek out an antique with a patina is that it is a sign of authenticity. While it is true that there may be less-than-savory dealers who may try to fake a patina, it is still an arduous process to replicate. In most cases, genuine antiques come with a surface that showcases the years of use and passage of time, creating a patina that takes decades to develop.

Patinas can also help a collector in other ways. For example, if you note that a patina seems uneven or disrupted, chances are that the antique has been altered or repaired. In some cases, it can be instantly visible as the coloration of wood or hardware will be vastly different.

Authentic Vs. Applied Patina

Applied patina, or distressing, is a popular finish choice for wooden furniture. Many Do-It-Yourself artists will seek out the steps to try and replicate a faux weathered look by using a variety of tools such as steel wool, vinegar, and even chisel tips, hammers, chains, and other means of making the wood look worn and lived-in. While it's cost-effective for someone looking to make new furniture look older, it is immensely time-consuming and easy to make one mistake that takes the weathering too far. There's a high chance of going from ""trying to weather a piece"" to ""accidentally ruining the finish or the piece itself.

How can you tell if the antique you are looking at has a genuine or applied patina?

One of the more straightforward tell-tale signs of a natural patina is noticing if the natural wood has a muted, greyish hue to the surface, with the original color of the wood lying under that surface or visible through a scratch.

With natural patinas, collectors may often notice wood has a more prominent grain and may come with original or less-than-perfect characteristics such as mill marks from being milled.

When seeking a natural patina, look for these signs:

• - Signs of wear and tear, such as nail holes, ax/hatchet marks, a chisel scrape, watermarks or water rings, scratches, and scuffing at the bottom of chair legs that happen through natural use.
• - Gray hues, tones, or hints of grey in the wood happen naturally as it ages.
• - Deeper, richer, darker wood with enhanced grain
• - Depth to and within the discoloration

What Man-Made Patina may look like:

• - Perfectly uniform brown tones
• - Minor to no imperfections in the wood
• - Layers of gray or light blue paint with no wood discoloration

Should You Ever Remove a Patina?

When we take our first steps into antique collecting, it can be easy for us to mistake dirt with Patina. There is a massive difference between the two. With dirt or dust, it is always best to keep your antiques as dirt and dust-free as possible, which can be done with lightly damp, soft cloth. There are other ways to clean your antiques and reproductions without harming them, which you can read about here: How To Clean Your Reproduction Furniture.

In the case of a patina on genuine antiques and even reproductions, you should never remove it to avoid devaluing your item. The Patina on your grandmother's dining room table or your Laurel Crown Victorian Armoire tells a story, whether that story starts from your grandmother's childhood or the day we deliver your handmade furniture straight to your door.

A patina is a beautiful visual signature of a piece's rich history in the lives of those who came before and who will go after