Brass Pots

Brass jars are one of the most effective ways to give a shelf, a vanity or a hallway a warm, playful look. At Dims Studio you'll find brass jars from the Dutch design brand Doing Goods, including the popular Circus series with stripes and hearts, as well as small animal-shaped jars. In this guide you'll get an overview of types, materials, use and care, so you can find the brass jar that suits your home.

What is a brass jar?

A brass jar is a small storage container made of brass, a golden alloy of copper and zinc known for its warm colour and its ability to age beautifully. In our range, the jars from Doing Goods are typically round or oval in shape with either a fixed or removable lid, which makes them ideal for storing anything from jewellery and keys to cotton buds and small items you'd otherwise leave lying out. See our full range of jars for more materials and sizes.

Types of brass jars

Our brass jars from Doing Goods fall into a few distinct groups, depending on pattern and shape.

Circus jars with stripes

The Circus series is characterised by vertical stripes reminiscent of a circus tent, and it's the most widely represented series in our range. Here you'll find, among others, the Bailey circus jar, Maisie circus jar, Scarlett circus jar, Gul circus jar and Pyar circus jar, all in brass with the signature striped pattern. The Piper striped circus jar also comes with a lid, so it doubles as a small storage box with a distinct look.

Jars with a heart motif

Several of the jars from Doing Goods play with the heart shape, either as the jar's own form or as a detail in the pattern. The Pyar heart jar with circus stripes in brass combines the striped Circus look with a heart-shaped lid, while the Cameron pink jar in brass has a pure heart-shaped design with a soft pink colour over the otherwise golden brass.

Animal-shaped and figurative jars

Some of the jars are shaped like, or inspired by, animals and figures. The Abby shell jar in brass is shaped like a shell, while the Jana Hånd jar in brass is shaped like a hand holding the lid. The Dronningebi jar in brass takes its name and look from the world of bees, adding a more surprising, sculptural touch to a shelf or chest of drawers.

Plain and simple jars

Alongside the patterned and shaped jars, you'll also find simpler models without stripes or figures, such as the Lou blue jar in brass and the Lola jar in brass. These have a calmer look that works well if you want the brass colour and material without the more playful pattern, for example if the jar is going in a room where the rest of the decor already has plenty of other colours and patterns to play against.

Jar in polyresin

A few of the jars in the Circus series, such as the Pink circus jar, are made from polyresin instead of brass, but with the same striped Circus design. Polyresin offers a lighter alternative to brass while keeping the same colourful look. This makes this type of jar a good fit if you want the Circus pattern somewhere the weight of real brass isn't practical, for example on a shelf that shouldn't be overloaded, or if you simply prefer the price of a material that isn't a genuine metal.

Type	Features	Best for
Circus jars	Vertical brass stripes	Shelf, chest of drawers, bathroom
Jars with heart motif	Heart shape in lid or body	Vanity, gift
Animal-shaped jars	Shaped like a shell, hand or bee	A surprising, sculptural touch
Plain jars	Simple design without pattern	A calm, cohesive look
Jar in polyresin	Circus design in a lighter material	For you, if you want the look in a different material

Brass in interior design: why the material is so popular

For several years, brass has been one of the most used metals in modern interior design, because its golden, warm look can offset cool materials like concrete, marble and glass, or emphasise an already colourful and maximalist home. Unlike shiny chrome or silver, brass has a warmth that makes it a natural match for earthy tones, pastels and the many patterns found in Doing Goods' Circus series. Because brass also ages with dignity and develops its own patina, a brass jar doesn't just become an interior object, but something that slowly gains its own history as it's used.

Brass jars as part of a bigger look

A single brass jar rarely makes a huge difference on its own, but becomes part of an overall style when combined with other materials and objects in the same colour palette. Try grouping two or three different jars together, ideally in different sizes and patterns, to create depth on a shelf or side table. Doing Goods' brass jars also work well alongside other products from the brand in the same metal, making it easy to style a cohesive look across several rooms. See also our range of glass jars if you want to combine brass with a more transparent look in the same display.

Materials: brass, resin and polyresin

The material has a big impact on the jar's weight, patina and care.

Brass

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, known for its golden colour and for being able to be polished to a high shine. Over time, brass can develop a natural patina, a slightly matte, brownish surface that many consider part of the material's charm, because it gives the object a more lived-in, authentic look. Most of Doing Goods' jars in our range are made of brass.

Brass and resin

A few jars, such as the Bailey jar in brass and resin, combine brass with resin in the construction itself, which can give a different finish or texture to parts of the jar while keeping the golden brass look. The combination is often used to create a different surface or pattern on the lid or details, without compromising brass's characteristic weight and shine on the body itself.

Polyresin

Polyresin is a cast synthetic resin used to mimic the look of heavier materials like brass, but in a lighter and more affordable material. The Pink circus jar in polyresin is an example from our range, where the striped Circus design has been carried over to a different material from the other jars in the series.

How to care for your brass jar

• Wipe the jar with a dry or slightly damp cloth to remove dust and fingerprints.
• If you want to keep brass's shiny, golden surface, you can polish it with a brass polish from time to time. If you'd rather have the patina, simply leave the jar be.
• Avoid placing the jar in direct moisture or outdoors, as brass can tarnish faster with constant exposure to damp.
• Jars in polyresin should be wiped with a dry cloth and shouldn't be exposed to harsh cleaning products that can scratch the surface.

Brass jars in the home

A brass jar is small enough to find room almost anywhere, but it shines in some spots more than others.

In the bathroom

A brass jar is handy for storing cotton buds, cotton pads and other small items you don't want left lying around in their packaging. The golden brass also adds a warmer counterpoint to the bathroom's often cool surfaces like tiles and porcelain.

On the vanity or chest of drawers

Jars with a heart motif or Circus stripes are ideal for storing jewellery, hair ties or other small items you use daily. Try placing a few different jars together for a more layered look.

In the hallway

A jar by the front door is a handy spot to collect keys so they don't go missing. See also our range of brass hooks and knobs if you want to style the whole hallway in the same material.

As pure decoration

The more sculptural jars, such as the Jana Hånd jar or the Dronningebi jar, work just as well as purely decorative objects on a shelf or side table, where their shape can really come into its own.

At the desk or in the office

A brass jar is also handy on the desk, where it can hold paperclips, thumbtacks or other small items, while adding a warm, personal detail to an otherwise functional corner of the home.

Sizes: from the very small to the slightly larger jar

Most of our brass jars from Doing Goods sit at the smaller end of the scale, designed for storing small items rather than large quantities. The Circus jars and heart jars are typically compact enough to stand several together on a single shelf, while the more sculptural jars like the Jana Hånd and Dronningebi jars often have a bit more volume, since the shape itself takes up more space. If you need a jar to store something larger, take a look at our wider range of jars in other materials and sizes.

The brand behind the jars: Doing Goods

Doing Goods is a Dutch design brand known for a colourful and playful look across furniture, home accessories and storage. The Circus series, to which a large part of our brass jar range belongs, is one of the brand's most recognisable designs, with its vertical stripes reminiscent of a circus tent. Doing Goods often works with contrasts, such as golden brass against soft pastels or striped patterns against soft shapes like hearts and animals, a theme that runs through the entire jar range. See the brand's full range of Doing Goods jars, where you'll find brass, resin and polyresin all represented in the same playful style.

How to choose the right jar: decision guide

If you're unsure which brass jar suits you best, use these recommendations from our range as a starting point.

Situation	Our recommendation
You want a clear, patterned look	A Circus jar with stripes, for example Bailey or Maisie
The jar will hold jewellery or make-up	A jar with a heart motif, for example Cameron or Pyar
You want a surprising, sculptural object	The Jana Hånd jar or the Dronningebi jar
You want a calm, plain look	The Lou blue jar or the Lola jar
You want the Circus design in a lighter material	The Pink circus jar in polyresin
The jar will hold keys in the hallway	One of the simple or striped jars with a lid
You need a gift with personality	A heart-shaped or animal-shaped jar from Doing Goods

Frequently asked questions about brass jars

What is brass made of?

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, known for its golden colour. The ratio of copper to zinc can vary, giving different shades ranging from more reddish to more golden.

How do I keep my brass jar shiny?

Wipe the jar regularly with a dry or slightly damp cloth, and use a brass polish if needed to restore the shine, if you prefer a shiny surface over the natural patina.

What is patina, and should I remove it?

Patina is the light, matte and often slightly brownish surface that brass develops naturally over time. It's not a flaw but part of the material's natural ageing, and many choose to deliberately let the patina stay, as it gives the jar a more lived-in look.

What's the difference between brass and polyresin?

Brass is a genuine metal, an alloy of copper and zinc, while polyresin is a cast synthetic resin that can mimic the look of brass in a lighter and often more affordable material.

What can I store in a brass jar?

The jars are well suited to smaller items such as jewellery, keys, cotton buds, hair ties and other things you'd otherwise leave lying out or keep in their packaging.

Can a brass jar sit in the bathroom?

Yes, but avoid placing it in direct, constant moisture, as this can speed up tarnishing of the brass surface. Normal use in a bathroom usually isn't a problem.

What is the Circus series from Doing Goods?

The Circus series is one of Doing Goods' best-known design lines, characterised by vertical stripes reminiscent of a circus tent. The series appears across several products, including jars in brass and polyresin.

Can brass jars be used outdoors?

Our brass jars are primarily designed for indoor use. Outdoor moisture and weather can speed up tarnishing and patina faster than you might want.

Are all the jars from Doing Goods made of brass?

No, most are brass, but a few, such as the Pink circus jar, are made of polyresin, while the Bailey jar combines brass with resin in its construction.

How do I clean a jar in polyresin?

Wipe the jar with a dry cloth, and avoid harsh cleaning products or abrasives that can scratch the surface.

Is a brass jar a good gift?

Yes, a small, decorative brass jar is a great gift idea, since it's both practical for storage and works as a beautiful object in its own right, for example as a hostess gift or birthday present.

How many jars should I group together?

There's no fixed rule, but two or three jars in different sizes and patterns often create a more lively look than a single jar alone, especially when placed together on a shelf or side table.

Does brass go well with other metals in the home?

Yes, brass pairs well with other metals like black metal or chrome, as long as you're thoughtful about where the different metals are placed. Many people group their brass details in one spot, for example on a single shelf, to create a cohesive look.

Can brass jars be used for storage in the kitchen?

They're mainly intended for small items like jewellery, keys and toiletries rather than food, but they can easily sit on a kitchen shelf as a decorative storage solution, for example for toothpicks or hair ties.