Deborah Shouse is the coauthor of Working Woman's Communications Survival Guide and a contributor to a number of anthologies, including the American Book Award winner I am Becoming the Woman I've Wanted. You want to understand the damage and changes the piece has undergone so that you can understand if the price pleases you. The metal terms bronze copper and brass are all recorded in the earliest Classical writings. Brass was made using a cementation process but this was replaced by speltering, the direct alloying of copper and zinc metal which was introduced to Europe in the 16th century.[2]. I'll see if I can located the tutorial. A coppery color would indicate brass. Then figure out what the total cost of the trip would be.? My new otter in cold-cast bronze ; the finished item. Then find out what metal was used to make the sculpture. Archaeological bronzes or items that have been exposed to salty air may develop bronze disease small powdery green spots on the surface. Tips on looking after bronze, spelter and lead, figures and statues. If you put a foot-tall bronze sculpture on a scale, it will weigh six to ten pounds. A patina can be described as a film on the surface of bronze because of the reaction to air particles over time. However if only the items base is heavy, it could be a spelter sculpture attached to a different base, giving it extra weight. Ceramic & Sculpture Repair Lessons Bronze is solid but if the base of the piece has been scratched with a tougher metal, then it should have a gold or yellow colour. Plus, antiques add a sense of warmth, history, and character to your house.\r\n\r\nWhether you are purchasing antiques because of their beauty, or because you simply love older things, or because you are hoping that they will hold their value, the best rule is to buy what you like and to keep your \"RADAR\" out for values. Was this a copy of a larger Moreau sculpted? How do you tell if a scupture is bronze or spelter? Microcrystalline wax helps to prevent further deterioration: apply one or two coats (leaving an hour between each) and buff gently with a soft cloth. For example, with glassware, mint implies no chips, cracks, or breaks. There are beautiful examples of craftsmanship from this era. The porcelain is restorable, in the hands of an expert restorer, and the glass typically is not, with the exception of minor rim chips.\r\n
It is polite to stare when it comes to shopping for value in antiques. But even items that aren't as fragile as glass or ceramics, such as wood tables and cabinets, are at risk of being damaged, and perhaps damaged so badly they are discarded over time.\r\n \t
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- Mint condition means the piece is perfect. Spelter was made to look like bronze. If your piece is only valuable to you and not to be resold, the welding method of repair, which is not reversible, is ok to do. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. It is an exact discipline, which needs expert handling to create a perfect bronze. Although some may be surprised upon learning that their decorations are spelter instead of bronze, high-quality spelter ornaments can also be very valuable. In ancient times bronze was a term that could denote copper or the far more durable alloy fusion of copper and tin. The name can also refer to a copperzinc alloy (a brass) used for brazing, or to pure zinc. The same figure made of bronze resin only weighs a couple of pounds. Is it from the time period the seller says it's from? WebBronze is an alloy consisting mostly of copper, usually with tin as the main additive (another copper alloy, brass, is copper alloyed with zinc). If there are bumps and blemishes in the surface and a lack of definition in the hands and face and, in particular, any ugly seams, then the item isn't an authentic bronze. In the past spelter has often been overlooked by art dealers in preference to bronze. Web19K views 5 years ago Watch Dr. Lori reveal how to tell if your sculpture is made of more valuable bronze or cheaper spelter. My selection
Deborah Shouse is the coauthor of Working Woman's Communications Survival Guide and a contributor to a number of anthologies, including the American Book Award winner I am Becoming the Woman I've Wanted. Now people covet the artistry that Tiffany displayed.\r\n
Authenticity
\r\nIs it the real thing or is it a mere shadow of the original? Many mold-blown (glass that is blown into a mold) early 19th century cream pitchers are clear. Search Results The speltering process [ edit ] Brass was made using a cementation process but this was replaced by speltering , the direct alloying of copper and zinc metal which was introduced to Europe in the 16th century. - Contact. Our goal is to make science relevant and fun for everyone. When you can look at a piece without wishing this or that were different about it, when all the elements of it blend together in perfect harmony, and when it has an overall pleasing appearance, then that item really has it in the aesthetics department.\r\n\r\nSome folks believe that an object's aesthetic value is a matter of personal taste. Artwork in bronze the patina refers to the gilding or chasing, or breaks solid.! Stone such as facial features, fingers and so forth me to be more like copper rather than.! 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