Ree, try sterling silver cleaner, the kind that is a paste.
I have an old coronet (GF was a bugler in WWI) and it was black. I don't know if it is varnished or what, but I took a barely damp sponge with the silver cleaner. Cleaned, then polished. Worked well. I don't know for sure, but would think silver cleaner would be less abrasive than brass cleaner.

Thank you no green thumb..I do have silver polish, so I will give it a try. I do have to apologize..I meant to put this post on the cleaning forum..silly me..lol!
Ree

In my helpful hints from Heloise they say to use lemon juice or vinegar with salt add flour to make a paste. That will give a shiney look. For the dull luster look, use rottenstone (available at HD) mixed with oil. I looked it up because I thought I remembered using ketchup to polish brass. Many years ago, I had a brass lamp re-laquered to protect it from tarnishing. It wasnt cheap, but it worked, just wish I had spent more money and had him perfect the brass before he laquered it. Its a very old family lamp. Back then, I did what i could afford. There was something else I was going to have done, but I cant remember what it was. Maybe he was going to replate the brass before it was laquered, but I honestly cant remember. I do remember him telling me that Brasso was a harmful product to use on brass.

gk..thanks so much..I do remember ketchup..long ago, my friend told me about it to clean copper and it will take stains out of pots ... good thinking! I did take the decorative parts and washed them in mild soap..they look great (it's all apart right now) but the arms are very black in spots and really does not look good. I will try ketchup, or the lemon/vinegar recipe and see..
Thanks again!
Ree

I didn't think you could clean brass that had varnish over it. How does the cleaner get through the varnish? Please pardon me for sounding stupid. LOL

I have some varnished pieces and I can't bring them back to glory no matter what I use to clean them. I'm planning on repainting them since I don't really want the brass finish anymore.

I figure if you want to bring a varnished piece back you'd have to remove the varnish and start from scratch with cleaning the brass and then apply new varnish. How off am I on my thinking?

brutuses, I think you're right. It sounds as if the lacquer has failed in spots, & the brass has tarnished. The only way to clean the chandelier is to remove the varnish with mineral spirits/lacquer thinner, clean with brass polish or the vinegar & salt method, then have the piece relacquered. You could also coat the piece with Butcher's Wax, after cleaning & waiting until it gets an aged look. The wax will preserve the appearance, but it is not as long lasting as lacquer. Cheaper & easier, though!

Barkeeper's Friend cleans brass well too, though I read on some forum that an expert thought it too abrasive. I didn't notice any abrasions when I used it.

There are sites on the web that tell you how to antique brass that has become too shiny after cleaning.

brutuses..by golly, you are right! The black will not come off!! Got a little shiny.. but won't budge! I even went out and bought a brass ploish..didn't put a dent. Well..at least it is clean and ready to be hung when hubby has off to do it. I guess it will show off it's age..lol!
Thanks to all!
Ree

Great info, thanks posters! I have a brass piece that has varnish that is failing. The brass hasn‘t darkened as described above. I love the color so if the bad varnish was removed, should I just polish it and dont varnish?. At the risk of sounding stupid...but why isn’t mine darkening?