Traditional Patinas

Traditional Patinas by Sculpt Nouveau – 8 oz.

Old-formula chemicals that react with the surface of metal to create colors and effects. Contains acids. Japanese Brown, Darkening, and Green Universal patinas work particularly well on iron and steel. May be applied hot or cold.

Traditional patinas are mixtures of chemicals that react with the surface of metal to create different colors. These are variations of old formulas that have been used for years but have been pre-mixed for your convenience. All of these patinas contain acids and will cause rust (orange color) on iron and steel. Not recommended for aluminum. Traditional patinas are for bronze, brass, copper, or over metal coatings, except for our Japanese brown.

Light Green applied cold to copper

Colors listed below, or click here to see Traditional Patina color chart. 

Traditional greens and blues: use on bronze, brass, copper, or over metal coatings

• Patina Blue (best if used indoors)
• Light Green
• Tiffany Green

Traditional browns:

• Japanese Brown: For iron and steel – hot or cold patina. Also makes a transparent brown on bronze, brass and copper.
• Ferric Nitrate: For brass, bronze, copper – hot patina
• Ferric Nitrate/Ferric Chloride: For brass, bronze, copper, metal coatings – cold patina
• Darkening patina: Great for all metals
• Copper Sulfate

Liver of Sulfur: sometimes called “sulfurated potash” or “potash”, is a mixture of potassium sulfides which has traditionally been used to darken or “antique” silver and bronzes. This is usually called ‘oxidizing’ the surface ( though it has nothing to do with oxygen), when the sulfur reacts to the metal surface to produce grays and blacks. Add distilled water to make a transparent brown patina.

Tiffany Green applied cold to copper

Sculpt Nouveau patinas are pre-mixed, ready-to-use patinas that can be applied to metal or to a surface that has been treated with a metal coating to create an infinite array of beautiful colors and surface finishes. We offer three types of patinas: Universal Patinas, Traditional Patinas, and Vista Patinas. Each type of patina is available in a wide range of rich colors and may be mixed together with other patinas within its group to form different shades. The different types may be applied over each other or mottled around in areas to make the patina more interesting. Usual coverage is approximately 200 sq ft per gallon. All patinas are designed for indoor and outdoor use with the exception of Traditional Blue.

For more information about patinas, use these links to download a Patinas Overview or download detailed instructions on how to use patinas and other Sculpt Nouveau products.

Click here to see a flow chart mapping the patina and finishing process from start to finish.
Click here to view a video demonstration of this and many other products.

How to use this product