This item has been used at home for several years, so the brass parts show signs of aging, hence the "used with scratches and dirt" condition. I actually prefer it this way, rather than shiny brass. There are no issues with its use. I used it in combination with a glass shade light on a slide rail. It was one of my favorites, but I'm selling it due to a change in decor. The longest bead strand is just under 10cm.