How a fireplace with MIDAS Metall® makes history
Real metal surfaces refined with MIDAS Metall® characterise your interior and are silent witnesses to history
Sometimes it is individual objects that, like silent witnesses, carry entire stories within them. A fireplace, for example: installed, designed, part of everyday life for years. For actress Bibiana Beglau, such a design element is the centrepiece of her living space: a fireplace that was coated twenty years ago by the company Ladena OHG with patinated bronze using the unique real metal finish MIDAS Metall®. Even then, it was more than just a decorative element. It was a conscious decision in favour of materiality, the combination of craftsmanship and aesthetics, and a commitment to a unique feel and a surface that changes over time.
The founders of MIDAS Metall®, Wolfgang and Ilona Napp, did not just create a sophisticated surface with this work. They sent a message: that craftsmanship can be more than pure functionality. That it is an expression of attitude, style and aspiration. Bronze, refined by hand, lends depth, patina and an aura that lasts. Pictor Meisterhandwerk und Denkmalpflege refurbished the surface: this time in MIDAS Metall® Brass.
Today, two decades later, the same fireplace still tells its story.
From left to right: Silvana Conradi, Bibiana Beglau, Jakob Wolff
A material with character
Anyone who works with metal knows that every material has its own language. Bronze, for example, conveys depth and warmth. It appears robust and grounded, almost archaic, yet at the same time refined and elegant. Over time, bronze develops a patina, changing subtly but always remaining present. Brass, on the other hand, plays on a different scale: it reflects light, creates elegance and radiates warmth. Brass has a classic, almost aristocratic feel, yet at the same time it is timelessly modern. In interiors, it creates a welcoming effect, not too cool like steel, not too heavy like cast iron, but with a warm golden tone that harmonises with both wood and stone.
MIDAS Metall® offers a wide range beyond Bronze and Brass: Aluminium, Copper, Gold bronze, Rosé gold, White gold and Platinum. Each alloy brings its own emotional and atmospheric qualities. For architects, designers and craftspeople, this opens up a palette that goes far beyond the classic choice of materials. Not only the surface, but also the effect on the room can be controlled. Metal is not just a material here: it is a design element with character.
One material, many possibilities
What makes MIDAS Metall® so special is its flexibility in application. While solid metal plates are heavy, expensive and limited in their form, MIDAS Metall® can be used to apply a real metal coating to almost any surface. Wood, concrete, glass, ceramics, MDF, stone and even flexible materials can be coated with a thin layer of real metal.
There are a variety of techniques:
- Spatulas for plastic, haptic structures that appear almost sculptural.
- Spraying for uniform, smooth surfaces, ideal for large-scale architectural details.
- Rollers for individual patterns and subtle effects.
Each technique has its own character and allows the surface to be designed in such a way that it blends in with the respective architecture or design concept. For interior designers, this means absolute freedom and creativity.
Between tradition and the future
The combination of tradition and innovation is typical of MIDAS Metall®. The history of the fireplace demonstrates this: bronze as a classic material, brass as a contemporary continuation, both possible thanks to the same material. For craftspeople, architects and designers, this means certainty in quality and openness to new ideas.
Conclusion
Bibiana Beglau’s fireplace is more than just a beautiful example of interior design. It is a symbol of the values of MIDAS Metall®: durability, quality, individuality. What began twenty years ago with a bronze surface is now continued in Brass. The same object, the same material, the same brand, yet a completely new appearance. This is precisely where the strength of MIDAS Metall® lies: in the combination of tradition and innovation, substance and design, craftsmanship and vision. For architects, designers and artisans, this means a material that inspires, opens up possibilities and at the same time bears responsibility for sustainability and longevity.
Can you imagine using this products for your next project?
Contact us today to find out more about the versatile application possibilities of this metal or to receive an individual offer for your project.
Choose MIDAS Surfaces GmbH as your reliable partner
for excellent real metal painting and coating products. Discover the possibilities of this metal and focus on quality and design with MIDAS Metall®. If you are a private customer and would like to have this metal used, please talk to your painting company or plasterer.
Credits Project:
Year of production: 2024
Location: Fireplace in private appartement
Artisan: Jakob Wolff, Pictor Meisterhandwerk und Denkmalpflege Mahlerstraße 35, 13088 Berlin , Germany
Photography: Jakob Wolff