When you choose unlacquered brass taps, you’re not just choosing a fixture. In reality, you’re choosing a piece of living architecture that will evolve and mature along with your home.
At Francone Bespoke Taps, our passion is crafting brassware that transforms over time, developing character and warmth in its own unique way.
What is Unlacquered Brass?
Unlacquered brass is raw, polished brass that has been left deliberately without a protective coating (lacquer). Initially, it has a golden shine to it, but exposure to the moisture and air over time causes subtle chemical changes. Oxidation and patina, darkening and highlighting, the result is a finish that is never static, but always alive.
At Francone Bespoke Taps, we hand-polish each piece before sending it out bare. The brilliance you see at first is meant to transform: either preserved by careful cleaning or allowed to mature by embracing the inherent aging process.
Why Choose Unlacquered Brass?
Choosing to use unlacquered brass finishes is about more than just the finish. There’s a philosophy to it, which invites you to appreciate materials that age with grace.
1. A patina that’s personal to you
No two unlacquered brass taps will age the same, and there’s a real beauty in that.
Different factors, such as your water quality and cleaning habits, will cause your taps to develop a patina that is totally unique to your environment. As such, patina can be thought of as a form of personalisation that happens over time.
2. Timeless warmth and presence
Brass is popular for a reason, and the warm, golden tones that it offers are unmatched in their ability to bring depth to interiors.
Unlacquered brass taps inherently bring a sense of heritage and luxury, and this complements both classic and contemporary decor.
3. Repairable and sustainable
Unlike plated or coated finishes that can flake or wear, solid brass can be continuously refinished. If your taps ever show heavy wear or discoloration, they can simply be re-polished.
This gives your brassware a long lifecycle, particularly good for those who value sustainability in their design.
4. Craftsmanship
Our brassware is made to be honest, and we never hide flaws under finishes.
Instead, we believe it’s best to celebrate the natural character of the material. In our pieces, look closely and you’ll find tool marks and micro-variations. These tell the story of how it came to be.
How the Patination Process Happens
Patina is not something that happens overnight, and is instead a process that takes several months or years to achieve. Each stage of the process brings a new look to your taps.
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Initial shine: Fresh from hand polishing, your tap will gleam golden and bright.
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Micro-oxidation: Exposure to the air and moisture will start the oxidation process, and subtle changes to the tone begin to appear.
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Highlighting & contrast: High-touch areas such as the lever and spout tip may remain brighter, while recesses or shaded parts deepen.
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Long-term maturity: Over months and years, the contrast between matte and bright, light and dark, will evolve, giving your tap a character that’s uniquely “you.”
With unlacquered brass taps, you have the ability to influence the process as you desire. Gentle cleaning and occasional polishing will result in a different look than letting nature take its course. The choice is yours.
Caring for Unlacquered Brass
Maintaining brassware is all about respect for the material, not about sticking to a rigid cleaning schedule. Some recommendations for care include:
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Regular cleaning should be done with a soft cloth and a mild, non-abrasive soap. Avoid harsh chemicals and bleach, as these can damage the brass.
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If you wish to restore brightness, a micro-abrasive polishing paste (brass polish) can help, but it should be used sparingly and lightly.
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Some customers apply beeswax or micro-coatings selectively, knowing they may need recoating over time.
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Expect that over time, you’ll balance preservation vs. natural patina depending on your style.
Because unlacquered brass is a “living finish,” the goal is not to arrest change, but to guide it over time.
Where Unlacquered Brass Taps Work Best
We offer a range of finishes, from matt brass, satin, tumbled, bronze, gunmetal, nickel variants, even chrome, but unlacquered brass holds a special position in our palette. Unlacquered brass taps are versatile and can bring a new feel to any environment. In particular, we believe that they work best in:
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Period homes, where they echo historic brassware.
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Boutique or artisan settings (e.g. yoga studios, heritage hotels) where each detail is intentional.
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Bespoke bathrooms or kitchens where the tap is not hidden but celebrated.
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Settings with neutral or natural materials (woods, stone, marble) where the warm golden tones add a focal point to the room.
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Spaces where the owner wants an interactive relationship with finishes, rather than a “set and forget” approach.
Our Process & Quality
Every unlacquered brass tap from Francone Bespoke Taps begins as solid brass, never plated or coated.
This ensures that your taps have lasting warmth and durability. Each piece is precision-machined and then hand-polished by our craftspeople to reveal the natural beauty of the metal. We deliberately leave the surface bare, free of lacquer and sealant, so that it develops its own patina over time.
Before dispatch, we carefully check every tap and inspect it for finish and functionality. We test that it has smooth valve operation and that it is visually consistent, so you can be sure that each piece meets our high standards.
Finally, each tap is packaged with guidance on installation and care, helping you to decide whether to maintain its bright polish or embrace the natural aging process.
Level of Aging
When your tap arrives, expect it to be shiny and polished - over time, this develops into the beautiful, aged finish that you may expect to see right away.
Some customers prefer to preserve the fresh polish by lightly cleaning and occasionally refreshing to slow patina.
Others prefer to let the finish evolve freely, allowing the natural finishes to emerge.
Summary: Why Ours Are Worthwhile
At Francone Bespoke Taps, we believe that unlacquered brass deserves to be appreciated in its truest form. As such, each tap we make is crafted from solid brass, hand-finished and left uncoated so it can mature gracefully over time.
This commitment to authenticity means that your tap isn’t just there to serve a function. Instead, it will become a living feature of your space, deepening in colour and personality as the years pass.
Our brassware is designed to last a lifetime, with the ability to be refinished, repolished, and repaired rather than replaced. It’s a sustainable choice that values craftsmanship over mass production, and individuality over uniformity. By choosing our unlacquered brass taps, you’re choosing a piece of design that evolves alongside your home.
Photo Credit:
@home.at.the.rectory
@scarlettcraveninteriors / @penguinseggstudio
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