Bronze Care & Information

Tarnish and Patina

The bronze used for your piece is made up of copper and tin (there is no nickel). This means that it will naturally develop patina and tarnish over time. This does not mean it is defective. Tarnish can begin to appear as soon as the first wear, which is completely normal and expected, not a sign of a problem with your piece. You can choose to maintain its shine or embrace the antique look; both are beautiful!

Tarnish can appear as a change in tone of the golden bronze color to a more subtle yellow bronze color, and corners, details, bezels, or bails that have sharper angles or detailing may darken and change color faster. Everyone's body chemistry is different; some people will notice changes more quickly than others, and that's just the nature of bronze. It is also common to see hints of green due to the copper reacting with the oil from your skin, lotions, air, water, and moisture in the atmosphere. This is especially true if you have more acidic skin, and it is not harmful or a sign of a defective piece.

With proper storage and regular maintenance, you can keep your bronze piece looking just like new.

Daily Care

• Skin & Metal: Keep both skin and metal dry when possible.
• Put on: Apply lotions, perfumes, and sunscreen before putting on your jewelry.
• Remove: Remove before swimming, showering, or exercising.
• Pat dry: Pat dry immediately if exposed to water.

Cleaning & Restoration

• Regular cleaning: Wash with mild soap and warm water, then dry thoroughly.
• Polishing: Use a soft polishing cloth to restore shine. I recommend Sunshine brand polishing cloths. One is included free with your order.
• Deep cleaning: You can use Weiman Silver Cream or a similar quality silver polish, or you can make a paste with lemon juice and baking soda, gently rub, rinse, and dry completely.

Why I Do Not Recommend Ultrasonic Cleaners

I do not recommend using an ultrasonic cleaner on my bronze clay pieces or my fine silver clay pieces. These pieces begin as metal clay. During firing, the binder burns away and the metal particles sinter together to form solid metal. Even after firing, the metal can retain microscopic porosity.

The bright finish comes from the careful polishing and burnishing I do by hand. Burnishing smooths and compresses the metal's surface; it is not a coating or plating. Ultrasonic cleaning can disturb this burnished finish and expose underlying microscopic porosity, leaving the surface looking hazy, film-like, or less reflective. That appearance may be a change to the polished surface itself rather than a film that can simply be washed away.

Bronze also contains copper. The mechanical agitation of ultrasonic cleaning, combined with the chemistry of the cleaning solution, can alter the surface and expose a copper-rich appearance. This can leave your piece looking rosy pink or orange instead of its usual warm, golden bronze color.

This surface discoloration can be buffed out using the Sunshine polishing cloth or Weiman Silver Cream I recommend above. I recommend gentle hand cleaning and polishing rather than another cycle in an ultrasonic cleaner. If the color or haze persists, please contact me before trying more aggressive cleaning methods.

Storage

• Store: In a dry place.
• Airtight: Keep in an airtight container or bag to slow patina development.

I ship your piece with special anti-tarnish materials: anti-tarnish tissue paper, a black anti-tarnish strip, or both. These help protect your piece during shipping and preserve the polished shine it had when it left my studio.

Heirloom Quality

Each piece is hand-sculpted, kiln-fired, and hand polished, creating a lasting treasure designed to be passed down through generations. Because nothing is mass produced, no two pieces will be identical.

A Note on Returns & Tarnish

Solid bronze naturally reacts over time to air, moisture, skin chemistry, and environmental factors. This natural patina and tarnishing is an inherent property of the metal, not a defect. Per my shop policy, requests for returns, refunds, or exchanges based on natural tarnishing, patina development, or skin reactions cannot be honored. If you have any questions or concerns about your piece, please don't hesitate to reach out. I'm always happy to help.

Questions? Contact me at Danielle@ingavaughn.com