Finishes & Patinas
Where bronze finds its final character
Finishes & Patinas
A piece from the maison Charles reaches its fullest expression in the finishing. Gilding, metallic coatings, patinas, varnishes and lacquers are applied by highly skilled artisans, each bringing out different subtleties in the metal: its depth, its texture, the way it holds the light. Samples are available to help collectors, interior designers and architects make their selection.
The Gilding & Metallic Finishes
This family of finishes coats the bronze with a fine layer of another metal. Fine gold gilding, usually in 24 carats, is its most distinguished expression; champagne gold offers a softer variation. Nickel and black nickel extend the palette towards silver tones and darker shades.
Varnishes & Medal Patinas
These finishes leave the bronze or brass visible beneath the surface. For a gold varnish, the piece is first polished by hand, bringing out the contrast between bright and matt areas. A tinted gold varnish is then applied, warming the metal while allowing its natural depth to…
These finishes leave the bronze or brass visible beneath the surface. For a gold varnish, the piece is first polished by hand, bringing out the contrast between bright and matt areas. A tinted gold varnish is then applied, warming the metal while allowing its natural depth to show through.
Medal patinas are created by immersing the piece in an oxidising bath, which darkens the metal. The artisan then brings back the light by hand, wiping the raised areas to reveal the metal beneath. The degree of this highlighting determines the final shade: light, medium or dark medal bronze.
The Fire Patinas
Fire patinas call for a rare expertise, mastered by only a handful of artisans worldwide. The process uses accelerated oxidation to colour the metal while protecting it. As the metal is heated with a blowtorch, the patinator applies successive layers of metallic salts and…
Fire patinas call for a rare expertise, mastered by only a handful of artisans worldwide. The process uses accelerated oxidation to colour the metal while protecting it. As the metal is heated with a blowtorch, the patinator applies successive layers of metallic salts and solutions with the tips of different brushes, until the colour emerges from the bronze’s own heat. Each application calls for hours—and sometimes days—of close observation and careful adjustment.
The Colours of the Angela Chandelier
The leaves of the Angela chandelier are finished in colours developed to the maison Charles’s specifications and exclusively for the maison. Enriched with mineral pigments, they retain their brilliance and stability over time. The Angela can also be decorated with gold or silver…
The leaves of the Angela chandelier are finished in colours developed to the maison Charles’s specifications and exclusively for the maison. Enriched with mineral pigments, they retain their brilliance and stability over time. The Angela can also be decorated with gold or silver leaf, applied by hand, one leaf at a time. This time-honoured technique belongs to a long tradition shared with furniture gilding and goldsmithing.
To view the maison Charles’s full colour chart, request samples or receive guidance in choosing a shade, the maison Charles team will be pleased to assist.
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