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.

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.