A home, office space or public utility space gains its own unique charm only when it is tastefully furnished and embellished. People who are in the process of doing up their spaces will realise that the job is easier said than done. When it comes to décor, serious interior decorators are bound to be baffled by the infinite choices that lie in front of them in terms of material, aesthetics, utility and user-friendliness. Though one might fancy a number of things, it is best to follow a theme or pattern, if you are the sort who subscribes for utility and aesthetics at one go. Once you have decided on the bottom line of your requirement, the next step forward will concern elegance and refinement. You will find that this aspect often lies in the days of the yore. For instance, brassware can lend a grace and class to any space by its mere presence.

A brief survey in the market of artifacts will reveal that just about anything under the sun made by man has been made in brass. Cooking utensils, containers, oil lamps, flower vases, musical instruments, coins, penholders, furniture like stools, chairs, swings, switches, trays, statuettes of gods and goddesses, models of animals, birds, insects, plants among other things, have their own charm when made of brass.

Shopper’s delight
The glowing golden appearance of the metal has never failed to attract the attention of an avid shopper. But, people are often confused when confronted with a choice between brass and bronze, both of which are similar looking alloys. For a discerning shopper, it will be better to know that while brass is an alloy of copper, zinc bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. The price of the alloy varies on the basis of the ratio of the metals used and their individual prices. Though the pricing of artifacts and utility items vary with factors like workmanship, antiquity and quaintness, if you happen to be seriously shopping for the alloy on a large scale then it is better to be aware of the current running market price of the metals.

Though it is common knowledge that these alloys captivated mankind with their unique property for a couple of millenniums and had an age named after them, today, ornate pieces made of brass are used for decoration purposes—thanks to its golden looks besides being used in areas where low friction is required in fields of plumbing and electricity and in articles such as locks, gears, bearings, and valves among other things.
Despite acknowledging the beauty and utility of the material it has been relegated to a corner to a large extent especially from the utility point of view because lighter materials which are not only cheaper, but are also easy to maintain, have replaced them effectively.

Brassware and artifacts are now used as compliments of very rich looking interiors in the foyers of offices, restaurants, and upscale malls, choultry premises, temples and some private homes. The alloy of another era looks ever so beautiful when artistically placed in a well carpeted luxurious interior. Many interior decorators opine that collection of brassware is a worthy investment as the market is always on an upward swing.

Indian legacy
If you belong to humbler economic circumstances, you need not worry about not being able to afford this kind of ambience, especially if you are an Indian.

 Just look around in your ancestral home or simply rummage your attic you are bound to find a few exotic brasswares lying blackened with neglect. Sort them out on the basis of their sizes and shapes and get them polished from your local metal mart. Leading shops which sell household utensils also take up these assignments for a small price on request. Once you emerge successfully through the exercise use the items as innovatively as possible as pot holders, pen holders and place them in eye-catching positions. Ornate spoons, ladles, bells, just about anything displayed tastefully lend a charm of their own to the area. You will understand that whoever said, “Keep a thing for seven years and you will find a use for it” was certainly not wrong.

If you have large brass vessels and pots, you could double them up as coffee tables with a little imagination. For instance you could place a vase of artificial flowers in the open vessel and place a plain glass cut in a striking geometrical shape after grinding the edges to a friendly bluntness or just place potted plants in them and leave the golden metal to gleam amidst the green foliage. You could improvise a side stool by assembling containers and plates imaginatively and display your artifacts on them.

Those of you, who have not inherited brass legacies, but have a penchant for the material, need not lose heart. Just about every city town and village in India has several shops that deal with scrap metal and there are some who specialise in brassware. Identify them and once you take a look at some of the remarkable pieces they might have, you will find that your rendezvous with brassware has just begun which could last for a lifetime.