What is patina? The secret to giving your furniture the designer look

What is patina?

The word patina derives from the Italian patina to mean 'a shallow layer of deposit on the surface.' Now used to refer to any signs of ageing of an antique, whether it be fading, darkening, or oxidising, patination occurs on almost any material.

A kitchen table scene with patinated woodwork on the table, surrounding chairs and panelled walls. There is a vase of eucalyptus and a bowl of figs on the table and a worn green pendant light hanging from the ceiling. — The concrete walls of the dining room, which is adjacent to the sitting room, have been dressed with wooden panels, showing their age through layers of scraped paint. The Windsor armchairs are c1850 and the pine table, with original paintwork, is early 19th century. The walls are decorated with a pair of 19th-century folk art paintings and a toleware tray. - Tamsyn Morgans -

Explore Marc Kitchen-Smith's charming Cornish cottage.

What causes patina?

Patina is caused by oxidisation when an antique is exposed to natural elements. The oxidisation occurs when the chemicals on the antique item begins to react with the oxygen, which is what causes the colour changes.

What does patina look like?

The appearance of patina varies greatly depending on the age and materiality of an antique. It ranges from the green rust we see on a copper doorknob to the deep, rich tones of wooden furniture.

Patina on copper, brass and bronze

Bronze and copper antiques possess a patina sometimes called verdigris. Characterised by its green appearance, this patina is formed by a chemical reaction between these metals with carbon dioxide and water.

This patina takes many years to acquire, but antiques in damp areas or near large bodies of water will show signs of ageing faster than those in drier climates. It's a helpful clue to figuring out where your antique has come from.

A kitchen scene with a table and chairs in front of a red brick fireplace. Antique copper pans hang above the wood burner. — Red brick and copper pans introduce warm tones to the kitchen in Alison Coleridge's home (find the feature in issue 400 of Homes & Antiques magazine). The vintage dining table is from Packhouse in Surrey. Alison has an eye for quirky, effective displays – in the hallway, just seen, she has attached a collection of vintage paint palettes. - Rachel Whiting -

Patina on precious metals

As opposed to taking on the green shades of antique copper, brass and bronze, patina of precious metals appear darkened and matte. However, this process takes much longer.

Patina on wood

Wood patina takes a similar course of development as precious metals. When natural wood, without paint or sealer, is left to the elements, the wood takes on a deep, rich colour. As the patina develops, the natural grain and patterns of the wood are also made more apparent.

A collection of vintage frazada cushions from Peru is displayed on the bamboo bed in the master bedroom of Amber Clery. Next to the bed is an antique mirror and chest of drawers, both with distinctive patina. - Ruth Maria Murphy/Living Inside -

Tour Amber Clery's elegant new-build.

Should I clean patina off my antique?

Patina is an important characteristic that auctioneers look at to determine the age and authenticity of an antique, so if you're looking to sell your piece and unsure whether to clean the patina, its best to leave it for now.

It's safer to preserve the patina until your antique is appraised and you know for sure whether this aged characteristic makes the piece more valuable.

An upholsterer polishes a wooden chair frame before re-covering it. — An upholsterer polishes a wooden chair frame. - Getty Images Plus / Richard Drury -

How to add patina to a piece

If you're looking to give some of your pieces a naturally aged look, choose from one of these products for a quick and effective way:

Books about patina

Learn more about the process of patination or learn how to decorate with patinated pieces with the help of these books.

Patina: 300+ Coloration Effects for Jewelers & Metalsmiths, £49.85, from Amazon

Buy Patina: 300+ Coloration Effects for Jewelers & Metalsmiths from Amazon

What is patina? The secret to giving your furniture the designer look

What is patina?

What causes patina?