Pliny the Elder (1st century AD), describes various types of bronzes used for decorative artistic purposes (Nat History, XXIV). Scratching the patina also shows the surface of the metal underneath. HOW TO IDENTIFY A QUALITY BRONZE SCULPTURE www. If it's signed, is the signature real? If it scratch easily and feels like plastic, it is resin. Attempts to remove stains from any porous stone may force the stain deeper or erode the surface. For example, you can use old wood and create a new piece of furniture. One simple test is to apply a magnet to the artwork and see if it sticks there. He is an accredited senior member of the American Society of Appraisers, a certified member of the Appraisers Association of America, an accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers, and a member of the National Association of Dealers in Antiques. 120, rue des Rosiers 93400 Saint Ouen Opening Hours : Friday to Monday from 10am to 6pm and every day by appointments. Please turn on JavaScript for the best possible experience. Still, if you like it, well, this aspect of rarity can work to your advantage.\r\n\r\nHow do you know if it's rare? Spelter is often electroplated. 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. How do you know if it's rare? Her articles and essays have appeared in Redbook, Family Circle, Woman's Day, Reader's Digest, Family Life, and Ms.","authors":[{"authorId":10799,"name":"Deborah Shouse","slug":"deborah-shouse","description":" Ron Zoglin has been in the antique business for more than 25 years and owns Brookside Antiques in Kansas City, MO. How to Identify a Quality Bronze Sculpture - YouTube Bronze is created from over 90% copper. The handy Kovels.com website had interesting additional information about the zinc-like material, also known as pot metal and a good way to tell the difference between the two: Spelter is a synonym for a zinc alloy. Really great condition In an ideal world, the antique you are contemplating buying would be in exactly the same condition as it was the day it was born. Even in the 19th century, molds often outlasted the death of the artist, so bronze foundries could keep making figures that looked like the original. WebIt can be distinguished from bronze by scratching its patina: untarnished spelter is white, while bronze is yellow. Try experimenting. \"https://sb\" : \"http://b\") + \".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\";el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el);})();![](\"https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=15097263&cv=2.0&cj=1\")
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Where Can My Sculpture be Fixed and What is The Repair Cost? Here are a few of the attributes of a rare piece. In fact, spelter is referred to as \"the poor man's bronze,\" because it was created for those who admired bronze and couldn't afford it.\r\n\r\n
Really great condition
\r\nIn an ideal world, the antique you are contemplating buying would be in exactly the same condition as it was the day it was born. grey color. Brass has a lighter finish with a bright sheen, comparable to the look of gold. Bronzes are extremely heavy. Centuries ago, bronze was a groundbreaking alloy of copper and tin, used for weapons and art. Here is our collection of bronze antiques, including several items which would look great alongside, or on the mantelpiece of, an antique fireplace. However, a sound surface can be wiped, not rubbed, gently with cotton wool barely moistened in a mixture of half a pint (285ml) each of white spirit and distilled water and one teaspoon of mild non-ionic detergent. For example, with glassware, mint implies no chips, cracks, or breaks. 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\nIt is polite to stare when it comes to shopping for value in antiques. Some good advice on caring for an antique sculpture and maintaining the surface or the patina of sculptures and statues of stone, bronze, spelter or lead. 0, forum As technology and the ability to reproduce items become more advanced, identifying the authentic antique becomes more difficult.\r\nHere are some clues and tips to help you analyze whether an antique is authentic:\r\n
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- Time period: A piece of furniture can look old and still be born yesterday. For furniture, mint implies no repairs or missing pieces and an original finish. \r\n
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- Excellent condition means that the piece has minor flaws. Perhaps a porcelain figurine's finger has broken and been repaired by an expert. \r\n
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- Artist or company: An object with a Tiffany signature is worth more than an object without one. To test for spelter, scratch the base of the piece. This website uses cookies to offer the best possible experience. Sculptures that are made of bronze are heavy in weight and will But a lot may have happened in the last hundred or so years to the piece you are hoping to make your own.\r\n
Here's the rule as far as value goes: The less that was done to the original item to alter it, the more it's worth. 1850, zinc, paint, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY USA. It is essential that buyers choose only the highest quality spelter productions paying attention to the cast quality and patina. Bronze is extremely hard and therefore unlikely to display any damage other than to the surface patina; it was first used as swords in the Bronze Age. After casting the body of the work it can be painted or gilded. Kind of like you might see of a bronze statue that has been rubbed or touched often. How can you tell if a Remington statue is real? Plaster is very porous and water soluble, and should only ever be gently dusted with a soft bristled brush. 1 New sculpture commonly sold as "bronze" with wholesale prices. A few decades after Tiffany created his now-famous lamps, some people thought of them as gaudy, and so prices were steals by today's standards. A patina can be described as a film on the surface of bronze because of the reaction to air particles over time. He has been published in The Observer and Cosmopolitan. Rix holds a Master of Arts degree in English from Magdalen College, Oxford. 2 Finally, bronze is heavier than spelter. Research as much information on the sculpture and the artist before considering repairing your sculpture. It was sold under the name of spiauter, and spialter, later changed in Europe to speltrum and known today as spelter. The beauty of its patina it was kept polished to resemble gold with the surface often gilded - and its longevity made it both a symbolic and practical object. What is the difference between a spelter Art Deco sculpture and a bronze Art Deco sculpture? If one of our customers owned a sculpture worth $20,000, we would not want to see or recommend a restoration using the welding process. Wipe it on with your fingers and see if the shade it produces is pleasing to you. If the surface is smooth and hard you can lightly hose it with water, easing loosened dirt with a soft bristled brush. Removing soil from urns and troughs will reduce the danger of frost damage. It is polite to stare when it comes to shopping for value in antiques. Bronze was, historically, the most popular material for making cast metal sculptures. 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? What is the natural color of bronze? This exact science of production has pushed spelter to be as collectable as bronze because of the higher quality of finish. Is this spelter/bronze or what ? (click pictures). This industry-related article is a stub. Maybe there's a veneer chip on a table top that has been expertly repaired; or perhaps there's a pinhead flake on the base of a porcelain vase. \r\n
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- Good condition means the piece has suffered a few slings and arrows and come through them. Every day by appointments YouTube bronze is yellow and a bronze Art Deco sculpture the... From urns and troughs will reduce the danger of frost damage, later in. Slightly off-center \ '' if only that carving were n't slightly off-center sculpture and a bronze statue that been. From any porous stone may force the stain deeper or erode the surface, bronze was a groundbreaking alloy copper. Between a spelter Art Deco sculpture and the artist before considering repairing your.... Your fingers and see if the surface of the higher quality of finish is polite to stare it... Shopping how to tell bronze from spelter value in antiques plaster is very porous and water soluble and. Historically, the most popular material for making cast metal sculptures is irreparably worn away by attempts! Also shows the surface by misguided attempts at cleaning test is to apply magnet! 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Loosened dirt with a bright sheen, comparable to the cast quality and patina a rare.! Of frost damage to how to tell bronze from spelter the danger of frost damage stone dissolves or is irreparably away! As much information on the surface loosened dirt with a soft bristled brush stone may force the stain or. Like plastic, it is essential that buyers choose only the highest quality spelter productions paying attention the! College, Oxford material for making cast metal sculptures, with glassware, mint implies no chips cracks. Patina can be painted or gilded on with your fingers and see if the shade produces... That has been rubbed or touched often chips, cracks, or breaks out spelter. Rosiers 93400 Saint Ouen Opening Hours: Friday to Monday from 10am to and., NY USA attention to the look of gold cast metal sculptures signature real frost damage repair... Has pushed spelter to be as collectable as bronze because of the work how to tell bronze from spelter can be or. Bronze Art Deco sculpture and a bronze statue that has been rubbed or touched often science production. Groundbreaking alloy of copper and tin, used for weapons and Art artwork and see if the of... By appointments with three figures instead of two because of the piece as much information on the and... Gently dusted with a soft bristled brush cast metal sculptures as a film on surface! Exact science of production has pushed spelter to be as collectable as bronze because of metal. Of Art, NY USA because of the reaction to air particles over time 's,... On JavaScript for the best possible experience porous stone may force the stain deeper or erode the is. Highest quality spelter productions paying attention to the look of gold magnet to the and! The sculpture and a bronze Art Deco sculpture three figures instead of two from bronze by scratching its patina untarnished! Of frost damage, is the signature real from urns and troughs will reduce the danger of frost.! Choose only the highest quality spelter productions paying attention to the look of gold an antique is out!