Tarnishing/aging a lacquered brass chandelier

[garyvp]

I need to tarnish and rough up two rather shiny chandlers and would like to not destroy them.....they need to look neglected. i thought of hair spray and then dusting them thinking that I can clean them up later. Any idea?

 

[JohnD]

How about colored hair spray, brown and black perhaps, and also lightly spray through some cheap lace material for a mottled look.

 

[seanandkate]

Maybe some spray graphite that you might have hanging around for instrument maintenance?

 

[Robert]

Instant coffee. Add some water and paint it on.

 

[garyvp]

These are all good ideas - will experiment with all of them! Thanks.

 

[JohnD]

Don't forget photographers dulling spray, in fact it might be a good base for other treatments.
Let us know how it turns out, especially with photos.

 

[garyvp]

Dulling spray - that is something we have......

 

[RickR]

Just a very dilute paint, preferably of a wash-off base like tempera.

 

[Okugi]

I need to tarnish and rough up two rather shiny chandlers and would like to not destroy them.....they need to look neglected. i thought of hair spray and then dusting them thinking that I can clean them up later. Any idea?

http://www.filmtools.com/removable-movie-paint.html

 

[Reggie]

From the local beauty supply store, Streaks 'n Tips, spray temporary hair color. Used for aging everything. http://www.sallybeauty.com/haircolor-spray/STREAK1,default,pd.html

 

[garyvp]

These are all great tips......will try the hair spray first.

Thank you all.

 

[BSchend]

apparently espresso gives a good patina as well.

 

[garyvp]

To all....the cheap brown hairspray worked really well on the chandeliers for Hot L Baltimore .......we also used to age a few other props as well. Thanks for the tips