We do not lacquer our brass. Lacquer keeps metal looking new for a while and then fails unevenly, and you can never quite get it back. Raw brass darkens from the first day, faster where it is touched, until it settles into a soft brown-gold after a year or so.
If you prefer it bright
A soft cloth with a little lemon juice and salt will take the patina back to bright in a minute. Rinse, dry, and it will begin again. Most owners do this once, decide they prefer the patina, and never do it again.
What to avoid
Abrasive pads, ammonia cleaners and anything that promises to seal the metal. The finish is the metal; there is nothing to seal.
