Distressed finishes 101

If you have ever watched Antiques Road Show, you know that interest in old brass is at an all-time high. This phenomenon has not been lost on fixture manufacturers. They have responded with high-quality antique (distressed brass) reproductions that are less costly, easier to install than the originals, and conform to modern codes. Antiqued finishes such as weathered copper, antique copper, antique brass, antique bronze and antique pewter are chemically treated to age them. The result is a piece that looks like a family heirloom from great, great uncle Ebenezer.