Brass is a copper and zinc alloy. The common alloy contains next to copper 5 to 45% zinc. Alloys with a high share of copper containing up to 30% zinc are also known as “tombac”. Leaded brass contains next to copper and zinc up to 3.5% lead to improve tensibility. A special attribute of the copper-zinc alloys is the appealing colour. The colour of copper changes with an increasing concentration of zinc from steel glossing rouge with CuZn5, golden yellow with CuZn15 and greenish yellow with CuZn28 to a saturated yellow shading with CuZn37.

Brass has been used in early civilisations: In Babylon and Assyria it was used during the 3rd millennium B.C. In Palestine grave finds have provided evidence of the use of brass between 1400 and 1000 B.C. It emerged by melting copper with calamine (zinc carbonate). The origins of the European brass production go back to the Roman times. The real brass industry began during the 15th century.

 Further information about brass:

Brass on Wikipedia