http://www.adamsavenuedesign.com/sculpture-amazing/
How a Bronze Sculpture is Made
A bronze sculpture has gravitas. Even a small or whimsical piece made out of bronze demands respect. It is a material not to be taken lightly. In fact, the sheer heft of bronze gives weight to its presence and sense of place. Whether sitting alone on a polished ebony display stand in a gallery, or displayed outside in a public space where kids can crawl all over it, or placed in a fountain for a tourist to admire, a bronze sculpture is a silent, but powerful part of our world. It fills parks, homes, and offices around the world. It was part of great civilizations long since departed, and is likely to be with us forever.
The process of making a bronze sculpture has been refined through the years. Artists who work with bronze come to appreciate its unique characteristics. It is an alloy that is probably the most popular for casting because it expands just a little bit before it sets. It is, therefore, highly desirable for the way it fills out even the tiniest impressions. This gives an amazing level of detail to the work that otherwise would be missed. It is strong and ductile, which is especially important when working with figures depicting movement.
The artist begins the process of making a bronze sculpture by making the intended shape out of some other material. It might be wood, clay, or wax. Once this is complete, the artist can then create a rubber mold. This is done by putting the original piece part way into soft clay. The rubber is then painted on the part that is exposed before a plaster shell is applied. The clay is removed and the same process is then done to the other side. Once the rubber mold is made, there is a template for making copies of the original piece.
The process of making a bronze sculpture then continues by making a wax copy of the original by putting wax into the rubber mold. When the wax is set and the rubber pieces are pulled apart the artist can go through a process of refining where needed. Depending on the faithfulness of the reproduction, the artist will take as much time as necessary to make sure that they are happy with the results. At this point, an edition number can be put into the wax to identify its place in the run. For example, if the run is going to be for a hundred pieces, the 30th one might read, "30/100" to indicate its place.
Next, a tedious process of making a ceramic mold is completed. Openings are created for the air and wax to escape. Once the ceramic mold is done it is heated and strengthened. Only now can the bronze be poured into the mold. Once it has cooled down, the figure is freed from the mold and the careful finishing process can begin. Techniques like sandblasting might be used to get the surface exactly how the artists wants it. Then the artist can paint or otherwise color the bronze sculpture however they wish.
Making a bronze sculpture is obviously a very involved process requiring a great amount of time, skill, and effort. Next time you get a chance to see, touch, or heft a bronze, take just a minute to think about what a labor of love it really is to make one of these wonderful pieces.
About the Author
To see some outstanding and unique bronze sculpture, check out Fairhaven Originals Gallery (FOG) online.
Amazing sculptures
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LG African ELEPHANT wall SCULPTURE head MOUNT artwork LIFELIKE amazing DETAIL $65.00 |
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Abstract metal wall art painting hanging sculpture, Amazing Sunset, deep colors $199.00 |
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Amazing Original Fine Art Sculpture, " Koi Fish Study No. 1 " Highly Detailed $218.68 |
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Vintage Matching Horse Sculptures with Amazing Detail $35.00 |
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" Primitive Force" by renowned artist/sculpture Lorenzo Ghiglieri.. Amazing ELK $5,000.00 |
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Amazing wood sculpture chair with buff leather cushion and backing $300.00 |
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Bronze! SPI Gallery Amazing Sculpture-Fish and Turtle $75.00 |
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AMAZING MAJOLICA SIGNED STUDIO ART POTTERY SCULPTURE SIGNED HORSE RODEO $133.00 |
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Abstract metal wall art painting and sculpture. Amazing blue original design $199.00 |
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flounder amazing winter flounder fluke salt water fish sculpture wall mount art $25.00 |
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NECA 2004 Marvel Collector's Club Amazing Spider-Man 3-D picture wall sculpture $34.99 |
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Michelangelo - CREATION OF ADAM - Amazing bronze sculpture - NEW $449.00 |
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DALI TRIBUTE - AMAZING BRONZE SCULPTURE BIRTH OF VENUS - NEW $399.00 |
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Large Murano Hand Blown Art Glass Sea Shell Sculpture, Amazing Colorful! $90.00 |
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Amazing Large Pink Hue Murano Glass Shark Sculpture on Crystal Ball 14" Tall $349.99 |
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ORIGINAL PURE BRONZE RED INDIAN CHIEF AMAZING DETAIL NR SCULPTURE ART FIGURINE $99.95 |
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·Mar· Amazing Antique Sculpture, Marble $149.00 |
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RARE Carousel Horse Sculpture by Renowned Curtis Jere Amazing Weathered Finish $540.00 |
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Crazy Horse sculpture - War Cry of Crazy Horse - amazing $30.00 |
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"The African Elephant" Amazing Green Verdite Sculpture/Art Handmade in Zimbabwe! $126.04 |
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AMAZING LIFE SIZE ELK STAG HEAD HOTCAST IN PURE BRONZE! SCULPTURE WALL MOUNT ART $399.00 |
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BRONZE SCULPTURE THE MASK PICASSO TRBUTE AMAZING ARTWORK NEW $179.00 |
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Art Glass Sculpture Vase 7" x 15.5" Burgundy White Amazing Home Decor See Pics $29.99 |
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AMAZING HANDMADE WHITE MUSSEL SHELL PERLMUTT SCULPTURE AVAILABLE ALSO IN BLACK $1,255.71 |
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MID CENTURY MODERNIST PATINATED COPPER ABSTACT SCULPTURE - AMAZING PIECE $175.00 |
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FREEFORM ABSTRACT ART SCULPTURE MODERN OVER 4 FEET TALL AMAZING PIECE $649.99 |
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Abstract metal wall art sculpture Earthtones Amazing fine painting by Hawk $199.00 |
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DJ Turntable ART - Lighted Wall Sculpture - One OF A Kind - AMAZING - NO RESERVE $995.00 |
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AMAZING! Modern Abstract Metal Wall Art Tropical Green Painting Sculpture Large $154.50 |
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AMAZING SIGNED LARGE SCULPTURE ABSTRACT FACE STUDIO ART POTTERY VASE CERAMIC $566.00 |
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AMAZING LARGE 1957 SIGNED OUTSIDER FOLK ART CERAMIC DIORAMA SCULPTURE HUNTING $498.00 |
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AMAZING VINTAGE STUDIO ART POTTERY FOLK ART SCULPTURE BOAT HIPPIE OUTSIDER ART $122.00 |
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AMAZING ARTIST SIGNED OITA JAPAN HAND CRAFTED SCULPTURE LARGE WOOD BOOKENDS MOD $158.00 |
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Amazing Bronze Colored Lamp Statue Sculpture $2,999.00 |
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AMAZING RACE BICYCLE / CYCLING SCULPTURE OLYMPICS $10,975.00 |
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LIZARD RARE SCULPTURE PATE DE VERRE CRYSTAL GLASS AMAZING DETAILS ARTIST SIGNED $269.00 |
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LIZARD RARE SCULPTURE PATE DE VERRE CRYSTAL GLASS AMAZING DETAILS ARTIST SIGNED $269.00 |
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SHABBY VINTAGE COPPER RAMSHACKLE CHURCH MUSIC BOX SCULPTURE! PLAYS AMAZING GRACE $24.99 |
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Haint Bradley Sculpture!! Amazing Folk Art! "Hamburger" $250.00 |
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Haint Bradley Sculpture!! Amazing Folk Art! "Vanilla Blue" $200.00 |
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Amazing marble sculpture by HansARP $1,499.00 |
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KAUBA PURE BRONZE RED INDIAN CHIEF AMAZING DETAIL NR SCULPTURE ART FIGURINE $319.00 |
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AMAZING 3 PRIMITIVE FOLK ART WOOD PAINTED SCULPTURES $89.00 |
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MONFORT DANIEL JOHN WAYNE SCULPTURE TRAIL BOSS AMAZING DETAIL SEE $14.99 |
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Abstract metal wall art painting hanging sculpture, Amazing Sunset, deep colors $199.00 |
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Amazing HUGE Outsider Brutalist Welded Art Metal Sculpture Bug Grasshopper yqz $0.99 |
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AMAZING "CORAL ADVENTURE" BRONZE FOUNTAIN SCULPTURE $10,000.00 |
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AMAZING VINT VIKING STUDIO ART POTTERY SCULPTURE WHISTLE INSTRUMENT SHELF SITTER $23.00 |
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DALI TRIBUTE - AMAZING BRONZE SCULPTURE BIRTH OF VENUS - NEW $199.00 |
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Sculpture Cosme Proenza Cuban Puerto Rico Latin American Art Rare Amazing Piece. $19,998.00 |
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amazing wire sculpture art octopus sea creature $50.00 |
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AMAZING CONTEMPORARY PATINA STEEL METAL WALL SCULPTURE $99.00 |
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CHE GUEVARA Statue * BUST / SCULPTURE * AMAZING !!! $65.00 |
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ORIGINAL PURE BRONZE RED INDIAN CHIEF AMAZING DETAIL NR SCULPTURE ART STATUE $299.00 |
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Henry Summa SIGNED Rare Glass Art sculpture 2001 Very Rare New Mexico Amazing $125.00 |
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Amazing life size vintage ceramic sculpture of a collie dog Lassie art deco $550.06 |
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AMAZING Modern Abstract Metal Wall Art Painting Sculpture Home Decor Work Spring $98.75 |
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Leopard Sculpture On A Plaque-Amazing Work of Art Jumps Out At You $14.99 |
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WOW! RARE-AMAZING MID-CENTURY MODERN JERE STYLE IRON BIRD SCULPTURE! $495.00 |
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AMAZING WHALE TAIL BY MARIUSZ RYNKIEWICZ -- HAND BLOWN & HAND SIGNED SCULPTURE $227.00 |
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AMAZING FULLSIZE ARTIST SCULPTURE OF WOMENS SANDAL SHOE POTTERY FEMALE $100.00 |
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8.7" Natural Zebra Jasper TIGER Sculpture/Carving #T83,amazing $55.00 |
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ARMANI - SPRITE - FANTASIA - COA/BOX - LE - AMAZING SCULPTURE!! REDUCED $50.00 $650.00 |
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AMAZING ITALIAN BRONZE SCULPTURE F. BIALETTI # as/1585 $13,995.00 |
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AMAZING SCULPTURE BRONZE SIGNED SALVADOR DALI $2,600.00 |
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Murano Art Glass - AMAZING FreeForm SCULPTURE $99.95 |
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18 century Rhino sculpture from big stone hanemade hard work amazing Thailand $6,000.00 |
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Amazing Burl Wood Folk Art Whimsey Sculpture. Signed!!! $125.00 |
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AMAZING MODERNIST CHROME SCULPTURE ABSTRACT BOOKENDS $768.00 |
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AMAZING CONTEMPORARY PATINA STEEL WALL SCULPTURE $499.00 |
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CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON amazing sculpture! #10 RARE - Horror bust figure $1,000.00 |
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AMAZING PICASSO 3D METAL WALL SCULPTURE UNREAL DETAIL ! 28" TALL $2,750.00 |
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Amazing Flash Labradorite Carving 2 Fish Sculpture 5.5" $179.99 |
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AMAZING OWL SCULPTURE FIGURINE SIGNED MUST C $155.00 |
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AMAZING BRONZE SCULPTURE BICYCLE BY A. OTTINGER $2,800.00 |
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Amazing Modern Art bronze sculpture SLEEPING MUSE from CONSTANTIN BRANCUSI $2,198.67 |
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AMAZING ABSTRACT MODERNIST COPPER AMETHYST SCULPTURE STUDIO ARTISAN $78.00 |
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LUCIANO GATTI SILK TIE AMAZING ART SCULPTURES $9.99 |
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Amazing Spider-Man Wall Sculpture 301 Marvel Collector's Club Neca New Rare $197.95 |
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Amazing Signed Japanese Wooden Netsuke Sculpture Figure $129.00 |
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WOW AMAZING LARGE SCULPTURE OF A BEAUTIFUL GIRAFFE AND HER BABY $150.00 |
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Amazing Vintage Folk Art Carving Sculpture Deco Modern Wood Ethnic Primative $300.00 |
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10" Natural Lapis Lazuli Horse Carving #W76,rare Gem,amazing sculpture $1,100.00 |
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Amazing Metal Art Sculpture Candle Holders. Birds Feet. Signed!! $39.99 |
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AMAZING SCULPTURE YOU CAN DO - E. J. GOLD (PAPERBACK) NEW $20.91 |
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Japanese Sculptures Book - AMAZING tattoo reference images - dragons & foo dogs $48.00 |
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Amazing marble sculpture by Modigliani signed 1912 $1,999.00 |
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Labradorite Koala Sculpture Carving, amazing flash #N61 $89.00 |
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Wizard Of Oz Figure Figurine TINY PEOPLE Miniature Sculpture AMAZING Detailed $75.99 |
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AMAZING Balinese Sculpture Art Carving 'DEWA SHIWA'- Hand-Carved in Bali $199.99 |
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AMAZING HVY GRADY ALEXANDER NEW MEXICO STERLING DOG FLOWER SCULPTURE PIN 15118 $250.00 |
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Labradorite FISH Sculpture/Carving, amazing flash #I73 $95.00 |
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Vintage Brass Horse Wall Sculpture-Great Detail-Amazing Large Size-A MUST-WOW $59.99 |
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Amazing Iron Hawk Sculpture for office & living room $1,988.00 |
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Older Amazing LITTLE MERMAID Figurine PORCELAIN SCULPTURE - Mint In Original Box $79.99 |
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Amazing Mid-Century Bald Eagle Sculpture or Bookend - Alabaster - Dated 1967 $52.00 |
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GREAT HUGE FISHING SHIP SIGNED C. JERE MID CENTURY SCULPTURE AMAZING! $1,150.00 |
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SIGNED C. JERE MID CENTURY SCULPTURE AMAZING! OLD FISHING SHIPNET & BIRDS $1,150.00 |
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Amazing Crystal Shark Zanetti Murano Glass Sculpture $5,500.00 |
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JEFFREY GLUCK AMAZING 1988 METAL MIRROR CACTUS & COYOTE SCULPTURE SIGNED $2,499.99 |
