Searching after Bronze statues shopping? Bronze statues are perfect for a special gift occasion or if you want to infuse some art in to your home. The shell-encased wax is turned upside down and placed in an oven. The wax is melted out, flowing out through the sprues. Hence “lost wax” process! Molten bronze is then poured into the now-empty shell. The sprues added earlier allow the bronze to flow to every part of each section. And then…?
I find that even collectors of bronze can be unclear about how editions work. Here I’ll pull back the curtain on the bronze industry a little and give you some key vocabulary to understand what you’re seeing here and at other sculpture sites. You’ll find a nice video on the process of how bronze sculptures are made right here, so I won’t get into that again. Early on in the process I decide how large an edition will be, in other words how many of a particular design will be created before the mold is destroyed. This is the whole idea behind limited-edition bronzes. Artist’s Proofs — Artist proofs are typically kept around by sculptors to compare to each member of the edition as they are produced to make sure the chasing, patina, etc. all look right. Artists proofs may or may not be made available to the public. There is also no hard and fast rule about how many artist’s proofs might get made for an edition, but typically it can be up to a 10th of the edition size. So, should I be so inclined, there might eventually be four artists proofs of 13” Doxie Bump. These will be numbered on each “AP 1,” “AP 2,” and so on. Foundry Proofs — Similar to artist’s proofs, foundry proofs are used at full-service foundries to serve as reference tools at each stage of production. There would be a wax foundry proof to help the wax chaser recreate what the finished piece should look like. There will also be a chased metal foundry proof to provide guidance to the metal chaser who’s grinding and welding the raw metal. Lastly, there would be a patina foundry proof to guide the patineur in applying the correct final coloration. Discover extra info at Bronze sculpture to buy.
Tip for getting bronze art valued: Do some research. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a certificate of authenticity. If you don’t have one, the first step to deciphering a value for your bronze sculpture is doing some old-fashioned research. The first step is finding the artist. Somewhere on your bronze sculpture, the creator of the piece will have left their initials, signature, trademark or emblem. With this information, you can look up the artist and search for similar pieces by them. This initial research can go a long way in getting an idea of the value of your bronze art.
Bronze statues maintenance: Once you get your sculpture washed, rinse the rag out and run clean water over your sculpture. Give it one last wipe down and let the sculpture dry. It is really important to let the piece dry completely because the next stage is waxing. Waxing with water still on the surface can trap the moisture, which is not good.
In addition to my bronzes that are limited or open editions, I do have several designs that are totally unique and have allowed me to experiment with different materials. My Column series combines different mediums such as oil painting and copper mesh, and my On the Rocks stemmed from my love of petrified wood and hornfels as a platform on which to show my smaller bronzes. I have also created several ceramic environments for a number of my lovable desk buddies. Be sure to check back often as the selections change often and pieces are adopted quickly. Visit: www.laurelpetersongregory.com.
About Laurel Peterson Gregory : When I’m not in the studio, I can usually be found in the 10 large gardens with which I’ve surrounded my home and converted barn in the foothills of the Front Range south of Denver. My bronze animal sculptures have received multiple awards and are represented by galleries across the United States. I have fulfilled numerous private, corporate, and public commissions.