Systems & Solutions

At Juniper, we believe great design starts with exceptional material. Brass is not an aesthetic afterthought—it’s our foundation.

Valued for its inherent beauty, structural integrity, and living surface, solid brass anchors Juniper’s most iconic lighting systems. 

This is a guide for designers who want to understand not just what our finishes are, but what they mean.

Why Brass?

Brass has served lighting design for centuries. Originally chosen for its non-sparking properties in gas lamp applications, it evolved naturally into the electric era. That legacy endures in the threads and fittings still used in our products today.

Brass is not a single material but a family of copper-based alloys. At Juniper, we use brasses containing 60–70% copper, resulting in a deep, warm gold tone that complements both contemporary and traditional spaces. Unlike plated alternatives, solid brass maintains its color throughout the piece.

It isn’t just functional—it’s graceful. Naturally antimicrobial and corrosion-resistant, it develops a rich patina over time, capturing history on its surface. Built for permanence, brass stands in quiet contrast to a disposable world.

The Finishing Process

All Juniper finishes start with solid brass components, precisely machined in our Connecticut factory. Each surface is polished by hand to a directional satin sheen before receiving a finish—either plating or patina.

Satin Brass, English Bronze, and Black Oxide finishes are all hand-patinated through a five-stage process. First, we clean each part and immerse it in a mild acid bath, adjusting the exposure time to achieve the desired depth of tone. A brief immersion produces Satin Brass; longer exposure reveals the rich, chocolate hues of English Bronze. At its darkest, the surface fully oxidizes into our deep, matte Black Oxide finish. 

Satin Nickel follows a different path. After polishing, the part is plated off-site with a thin layer of nickel, then lightly refinished by hand to preserve our signature satin texture. 

All finishes are sealed in-house with a clear lacquer—gloss for most, matte for Black Oxide—applied in a precise choreography by our finishing team. The result is a surface that maintains its tone for years while subtly revealing the character gained over time.  

Built to Age, Designed to Last 

Over time, all brass finishes naturally develop subtle changes influenced by air quality, UV exposure, and handling. Our protective lacquer significantly slows this aging process without preventing it entirely. Instead, it ensures that the finish matures gracefully, preserving durability without degradation. 

If a fixture needs rewiring or reconfiguration decades from now, the brass will remain strong, intact, and more beautiful with age.

Choosing the Right Finish 

Designers often come to us with a clear finish in mind, and our options speak to a range of tones and applications:

– Satin Brass: Classic warmth and elegance. 
– English Bronze: A richer, moodier tone with depth.
– Black Oxide: A matte black with visible life beneath the surface.
– Satin Nickel: Cool, precise, and quietly modern.

Our core palette is designed to complement—not compete with—the broader architectural language of a project. To meet specific project requirements, custom patinas and digital color matches are available too.

THIN Pro: More Colors, More Flexibility 

Not every project calls for brass. For budgets that demand efficiency or aesthetics that lean toward opaque color, we created THIN Pro. 

Crafted from high-performance aluminum and finished with digitally matched coatings, THIN Pro provides exceptional flexibility. Whether in pure white, charcoal black, or a vibrant custom tone, these finishes offer durability, quick turnaround, and build on the design principles of Juniper’s THIN System.

Finish as Philosophy 

At Juniper, finish is never an afterthought or a trend. It’s a statement of how—and why—we create. 

Our lighting is built inside out: engineered to perform, designed to last, finished by hand, and made to matter. 

Because the best materials aren’t just seen—they’re experienced.