Summary for bronze vs brass Discussion
Bronze vs brass is the key question in this thread: Ellen St.G. Sadlier asks how to tell whether an antique ink well and pen tray, described as bronze, is actually brass because it looks very yellow. The answer given explains the basic metal difference: bronze is a copper-tin alloy, while brass is a copper-zinc alloy. According to the reply, bronze is generally heavier than brass and usually darker in appearance, so a very yellow finish may point more toward brass than bronze. The discussion is brief and does not offer a test method beyond these visual and material clues, so the advice is best treated as a general rule rather than a definitive identification method.
Q. I have purchased an antique ink well and pen tray which was said to be bronze. However, it is very yellow in appearance. How can I tell if it is bronze or brass? Thank you in advance for any help you can extend.
Ellen St.G. Sadlier
New Antique Dealer – Portsmouth, Rhode Island, USA
2007
A. Bronze is a mixture of copper and tin, whilst brass is copper and zinc. Bronze is heavier than brass and is usually darker.
Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2007
Q. How can I tell if my bookends are bronze or brass. They are very heavy and dark from aging.
Barb Jnatzi
– Medina, New York
2007