Antique Bronze Relief Sculpture Question

Shakethetrees · 15th December 2014, 10:03 PM

As a professional metals restorer at work for over thirty years, I've seen a number of these reliefs.

Most of them are BRONZE FINISH, not solid bronze.

Basically a casting is lightly finished and then plated in the manner that baby shoes used to be done. A relatively thick layer of copper is electroplated on to the zinc base. It is then scratched brushed, oxidized, and scratch brushed again to relieve the finish.

They are common.

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15th December 2014, 10:03 PM	#4
Shakethetrees Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Louisiana Posts: 363	As a professional metals restorer at work for over thirty years, I've seen a number of these reliefs. Most of them are BRONZE FINISH, not solid bronze. Basically a casting is lightly finished and then plated in the manner that baby shoes used to be done. A relatively thick layer of copper is electroplated on to the zinc base. It is then scratched brushed, oxidized, and scratch brushed again to relieve the finish. They are common.