Every HALDEN piece is solid brass throughout. The finishes below are applied to that same brass body, which is why they wear the way they do.
Hardware finishes are best kept with the lightest touch.
Day to day
Wipe with a soft, dry cloth. Fingerprints lift with a barely damp cloth followed by a dry one.
What to avoid
Abrasive pads, scouring powders and solvent or ammonia cleaners will mark the surface of any finish. Avoid them on every finish.
Lacquered or not
Not lacquered. Brushed and antique brass leave us bare, with no lacquer and no clear coat over them. That is the reason the finishes move the way they do. Matte black is a pigmented finish applied to the same brass body, and it holds its appearance.
Damp rooms are fine. Bare brass darkens faster in a bathroom or a utility room, which is patina and not corrosion. A dry wipe now and then holds it back, and matte black is the choice if you would rather nothing changed at all.
Living finishes
Finishes on handled hardware change subtly with use. That development is normal and part of the character of the piece.
How the finishes live
Handled hardware is touched every day, and the finishes respond to that. Brushed surfaces soften slightly where fingers land; antique tones deepen in the recesses; matte black burnishes at the high points. This is not wear. It is the piece settling into the room. If you prefer the day-one look, the light routine above keeps it there.