Verdigris and Rusted Metal Decor

Aged metal including verdigris and rusted metal decor brings a very unique look to a home. Obviously if you leave a piece of metal or glass outside for long enough it will start looked naturally aged, rusted and weathered. But most of us don't have the patience for that, and also we don't want to leave a beautiful chandelier or mirror out in the elements! Fortunately, there are lots of options to buy new metal decor and lighting that is already aged for you!

This impressive new 8-arm chandelier made by Provence Home is a great example of how convincing rusted metal can look. First, the turned wood center column of the chandelier is hand-painted with rustic gold tones and distressed to create the illusion of age. Then the iron arms holding the electric candles are given an oxidized finish which gives the chandelier a ton of character. The rusted look is very authentic, making this a perfect choice for shabby romantic decor, or a nautical style room.

Rusted Metal Luxury

This erusticated sconce by Chelsea House has a completely different look to the chandelier, but the erusticated metal finish on the acanthus leaf sconce again makes it look as if you found it in a vintage store. In fact, it's newly crafted by Chelsea House but cleverly weathered. This rusted metal decor provides a sense of tattered elegance. The places where it is worn are exactly the places that would grow worn and erusticated over time.

Verdigris is the term used to describe the bluish-green patina that naturally forms on copper or brass when it has been exposed to the air and moisture over many decades.

Verdigris is a lovely effect that works in all traditional decor styles and it has a charming and homely look to it.

This new Scarborough House frog statue shows just how attractive a verdigris finish can be. The brass statue boasts a verdigris finish on the frog, replicating the green skin of real frogs. The frog is rowing a shoe, of course! This statue is perfect for people who like a little whimsy. The brass shoe doesn't have a verdigris finish and the contrast with Mr Frog is delightful.
This wonderful new Wildwood Lamps table lamp also has a lovely aged metal finish. This is created by aged gold leaf on the lamp base, which is designed as a stylized pineapple. The pineapple was a popular motif in antique French and European furniture, symbolizing wealth and abundance. The aged gold leaf makes the lamp look like an antique even though it is new, and visually it also softens the gold leaf. If the gold were left unaged, then it could look a bit too bright and blingy, couldn't it? The aged gold leaf gives a very tasteful effect.

Weathered Glass

Finally, I just want to mention antiqued glass in mirrors. When a furniture maker ages the glass in a mirror, it creates a much softer effect, just like the aged gold leaf lamp above.

For example, this new Provence Home Antiqued mirror sconce shows just what a little clever aging on the mirror can do! The antiqued mirror is a better match for the distressed gold and blue mirror frame and electric candle holders. It could ruin the overall distressed look if the mirror were too shiny!

But also the antiqued mirror creates a softness that will give a more gentle reflection of the sconce light. The mood is immediately nostalgic and romantic. It's a perfect piece for a boudoir or a Victorian or Boho hallway.

If you enjoyed this post, then take a look at my other posts in this series on techniques used to create distressed furniture and how furniture makers create weathered furniture to give effects including driftwood, bleached, and weathered paint.