All plaques are made from quality brass or copper without lacquer. This will allow your plaque to attain a wonderful warm patina over time which is good for the plaque's longevity. However if you wish to lessen the intensity of the patina or remove spots, simply lightly scrub the plaque with a solution of lemon juice and salt. Note that use of non-brass or non-copper screws is not advised, particularly if the plaque will be exposed to humid or wet conditions, due to risk of unsightly corrosion.