Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. It melts at 850ºC and can be cast into patterned moulds or into sheets which are hammered into shape. A versatile material, brass has been used throughout history for both works of art and mass-produced household items.
Brass, Pewter & Cutlery in the Collections
Objects from the V&A's brass, pewter and cultery collections.
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Metalwork Decoration Techniques
Metalworking decoration techniques explained with examples from the V&A's collection.
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Caring for your Copper, Brass, Bronze & Other Alloys
Caring for copper, brass, bronze and other alloys.
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Caring for Your Metal Objects
How to care for your metal objects, from identifying the metals and other materials, spotting immitations, identifying common problems and how to clean them.
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Brass, Pewter & Cutlery Reading List
Recommended reading about brass, pewter and cutlery
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A gift in your will
You may not have thought of including a gift to a museum in your will, but the V&A is a charity and legacies form an important source of funding for our work. It is not just the great collectors and the wealthy who leave legacies to the V&A. Legacies of all sizes, large and small, make a real difference to what we can do and your support can help ensure that future generations enjoy the V&A as much as you have.
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Brass Chime Hoop Earrings
Effortlessly chic, this collection of handblown glass and brass jewellery combines colour, texture and even sound. The simple brass balls are tiny chi…
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