how to tell bronze from spelter

Anytime a piece sustains damage, its value decreases. One difference is that spelter has a lower melting point, but thats not a very helpful check for an antiques collector! 23 Jul 2013 - Uploaded by Nathanil Siri 1870 and 1880, gilt spelter, Museum of the Horlogerie Aliermontaise in St-Nicolas-d'Aliermont. 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. If it's signed, is the signature real? Art Deco figurines of women, often dancing, were made of bronze or spelter (white metal) for the main part, ivory for the hands and faces. 120, rue des Rosiers 93400 Saint Ouen Opening Hours : Friday to Monday from 10am to 6pm and every day by appointments. However if only the items base is heavy, it could be a spelter sculpture attached to a different base, giving it extra weight. Zinc and lead, while bronze is made of copper and tin. Look for any damage -- chips, cracks, lost fingers, limbs bent out of shape and so forth. have a golden color. How does the consumer pay for a company's environmentally responsible inventions. Books on your areas of interest also will show the better pieces.\r\n

Desirability

\r\nDesirability is defined by what's in vogue in the current market. Also unusual are a miniature, fine-quality salesman's sample of a piece of furniture from the early 19th century; or a large capacity candle mold for making 20 to 40 candles instead of the more common dozen-capacity molds.\r\n \t

Reproducibility. Some examples of rarities in terms of size or shape include silver spoons or other utensils with a specialized purpose, such as silver stuffing spoons used for stuffing a turkey or goose or marrow spoons used for coaxing the marrow out of bones. My new otter in cold-cast bronze ; the finished item. For example, you can use old wood and create a new piece of furniture. Research as much information on the sculpture and the artist before considering repairing your sculpture. 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. Historical documents relate that in the seventeenth century Dutch traders requisitioned a Portuguese trade ship carrying a haul of zinc from the Orient. What makes a spelter sculpture look like bronze? #1. Resin: Sometimes we receive Bronze looking sculpture which was made out of Resin which is epoxy resin and bronze powder blended before casting. 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. Grey indicates spelter and red or brown points to resin. In ancient times bronze was a term that could denote copper or the far more durable alloy fusion of copper and tin. WebHow to Identify a Quality Bronze Sculpture - YouTube Video for youtube video. One simple test is to apply a magnet to the artwork and see if it sticks there. Bronzes are extremely heavy. What is the natural color of bronze? Rinse immediately and dry well. In extreme cold stonework can split or shatter as moisture absorbed by the stone expands and contracts with freezing. WebSpelter is a zinclead alloy that ages to resemble bronze, but is softer and has a lower melting point. By entering your email address and clicking the Submit button, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Dummies.com, which may include marketing promotions, news and updates. Japy et Cie, clock, ca. You can tell if a statute is made of bronze by pouring a small amount of acid on the statue. Look carefully at each item you're considering buying, inside and out, upside down, and right side up. Antiques often have a ","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"You're going to spend some money on furniture and accessories, so you may as well buy something that can hold its value after you use it. Anatole J. GUILLOT (1865-1911) (after) - Young oriental woman, Important figural torchre in polychrome spelter. Ultimately spelter became a key metal for Art Deco sculptures and figurines. 1 New sculpture commonly sold as "bronze" with wholesale prices. What is the difference between a spelter Art Deco sculpture and a bronze Art Deco sculpture? Wide choice of architectural elements. Antiques often have a greater chance of retaining value than new machine-made furniture. It was known as tutanego. Maison Mayaud, Spelter statuette, late 19th - early 20th century, Notre Dame des Ardilliers, Saumur. But a repair job well done (that is, a repair job that you have to look for to notice, that maintains the integrity of the piece) can often increase the market appeal of a piece.

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Ron Zoglin has been in the antique business for more than 25 years and owns Brookside Antiques in Kansas City, MO. Visiting art galleries and museums is one great way to see antique objects of art that are considered aesthetically pleasing. Iron is highly magnetic, and you'll feel the pull in the magnet. If you strike a hollow place on the sculpture with a wooden dowel, resin gives a dull thud instead of a ring. In this case, it is very simple to distinguish the color of the original metal, without patina, which, in the case of the spelter, will be white and gray while the bronze would have been yellow. It is essential that buyers choose only the highest quality spelter productions paying attention to the cast quality and patina. Dummies helps everyone be more knowledgeable and confident in applying what they know. Bronze is unlikely to show damage and is less corrosive than spelter, however its also susceptible to bronze disease . Algae and lichen do little harm, and in most cases add to a statues value, but can be removed if the surface is sound by brushing with a solution of one teaspoon of dichlorophen, (available from most good garden shops), to one pint (570ml) of water. Tube: Willesden Green (Jubilee Line). To find out what is your sculpture made of, see tests below. If you put a foot-tall bronze sculpture on a scale, it will weigh six to ten pounds. If a piece is not being reproduced or is difficult to reproduce, its rarity increases.

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Aesthetics

\r\nYou may look at a piece, and think \"If only that orange line weren't painted down the middle of it .

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. Centuries ago, bronze was a groundbreaking alloy of copper and tin, used for weapons and art. After cast is removed, patina is applied the metallic looking surface. Edit: See post #4 from this thread: Adamantine Finish Care and Protection The information about finishing spelter is about half-way down. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. One nineteenth century writer observed that it was so supple he could wrap a shaving of it around his finger. 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. Examine the item for patches where the patina, paint or gilding has worn through, revealing the base metal. Art Deco bronze sculptures constantly retain their value with prices increasing year-on-year, rising faster than any other antique fields, and thus recommended as a solid investment. It is also poisonous so always wash your hands after handling. Whether 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. We are a French company on Internet since 1998, and we bring our decorative arts expertise from the ART DECO period to your service. By contrast, spelter and resin are both comparatively light, but they are sometimes attached to heavy wood or stone bases to give them extra weight. What is spelter - and how can you tell if an antique is made out of spelter or bronze? Look carefully at each item you're considering buying, inside and out, upside down, and right side up. What might be a minor chip or crack in a piece of porcelain can significantly devalue a piece of glass. Painted or gilded figures should not be allowed to get wet but should only be dusted lightly with a soft haired artists brush. You can hire 100 people to trample a new Oriental rug to give it a worn in look.\r\n\r\n

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• Artist or company: An object with a Tiffany signature is worth more than an object without one. The quality of spelter is in its casting. Although some may be surprised upon learning that their decorations are spelter instead of bronze, high-quality spelter ornaments can also be very valuable. - Site map On genuine bronzes, wear will reveal a brassy yellow colour. Publications include, 2010 - 2019 French Cab, Jean-Nol Cabanettes - 1930.fr. White marble and similar materials can be dusted with pure talc to fill the pores and prevent dust becoming ingrained. Search Results This website uses cookies to offer the best possible experience. Limestone, sandstone and coade stone form a weathered surface crust which if removed will expose a vulnerable crumbly surface beneath. Spelter is a lower value metal also known as white metal or pot metal. or having it cleaned by an expert. The preferred method of high value sculpture repair is using metal pins and adhesives. So it is important to know how to distinguish them.First of all zinc and spelter are lighter and more fragile than bronze, and consequently they can have easily visible cracks.

  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. Also, watch for patches of corrosion, because bronze doesn't rust. Spelter is a lower value metal also known as white metal or pot metal. Many customers believe their sculpture is Bronze and are disappointed when they find out their sculpture is made of Spelter or Resin. Scratching the patina also shows the surface of the metal underneath. Therefore, we can not chisel or carve it: the mold must be as precise as possible especially concerning the fineness of the details.The zinc sculpture and the lead spelter can be covered with copper by electroplating then gilded, but they are more generally patinated: it means that they are painted with copper, silver or polychrome pigments (more precisely, it is a glazing with turpentine and pigments). Some functional and breakable antiques were manufactured in relatively large numbers but are now more scarce, such as crystal stemware, porcelain dishes, and tea sets. - Sales conditions If it flakes or scratches off easily, it's probably a painted on patina-substitute. The term "spelter" is never used in France during the 19th century.The real spelter is an alloy appeared at the end of the 19th century. Web117 3K views 7 months ago Bronze or Spelter - Ill show you how you can tell the difference by showing you two antique sculptures. How Can I Tell If My Tag Heuer Watch Is Authentic?, Differences between earthenware stoneware and ironstone. Was this a copy of a larger Moreau sculpted? spelter How do you tell if a statue is made of bronze? In the second decade of the 20th century increases in the production of spelter arose from copper production being utilised for military munitions during WWI. Saturday, Sunday and Monday: 10am to 6pm, Copyright 2007-2022 Galerie Marc Maison, Privacy policies Archaeological bronzes or items that have been exposed to salty air may develop bronze disease small powdery green spots on the surface. Mar 23, 2006. The challenge when it comes to how to tell bronze from spelter, is that spelter naturally ages over time to closely resemble bronze. .\" or, \"If only that carving weren't slightly off-center. 83670 Barjols, FRANCEinfo@1930.fr. Spelter is often electroplated. Corrosion also occurs more easily in spelter. In modern times creating a work in bronze continues that tradition but other materials in metal offer, and at times exceed, the beauty of earlier precedents. Heres a quick guide for how to identify each material - and therefore determine if something is made of spelter or bronze. Demand for spelter increased during the mid-nineteenth century. Have a great holidays season and happy new year! 75, rue des Rosiers93400 Saint Ouen Opening Hours :Friday from 10am to 12.30am,Saturday, Sunday and Monday: 10am to 6pm,and everyday by appointment. The metal has been used since about the 1860s to make statues, tablewares, and lamps that resemble bronze. Bronze is extremely hard and therefore unlikely to display any damage at all other than to the surface patina. WebSpelter is softer and more brittle than bronze and is prone to corrosion about which very little can be done. Is it the type of antique the seller says it is?\r\n\r\nPart of the mystery and fun of antiques is separating truth from fiction. HOW TO IDENTIFY A QUALITY BRONZE SCULPTURE www. Region. That is, the fewer the additions or deletions over the years, the better. Sapphire-colored cream pitchers from this era are rare. and Eckstein, K (2003) "Production of Brass in Antiquity by Direct Reduction" in Craddock, P.T. After casting the body of the work it can be painted or gilded. The first question sculpture owners often ask is: "Should I bother to fix this?" The name can also refer to a copperzinc alloy (a brass) used for brazing, or to pure zinc. After all, antique items made of spelter are a sign of the times when the material was widely used. Today, art dealers are taking great interest in spelter, first introduced to Europe from the Orient by Dutch and Portuguese traders in the seventeenth century. Moreover, the technical manuals of the time use "zinc sculpture" (French: "zinc d'art") for sculpture copies and works of art made especially from the second half of the 19th century. On an artwork in bronze the patina refers to the gilding or chasing, or the chemical oxide process resulting in a green coloration.

  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. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. The solution is also suitable for cleaning hard stone such as a polished granite, onyx, blue john, jade and agate. If the object has any cracks visible, its likely to be spelter rather than bronze. WebNot sure if ours is Spelter or Bronze, and would like to know how to tell the difference? The dark or greenish brown patina that forms on bronze is highly desirable and should be preserved; so don't use metal polish or solvents on any bronze or any water on indoor bronzes. The piece is then rubbed back to highlight features and polished with wax. P.J.Mene How do i Know if the Bronze Horse is really? You can also compare a suspect figure with pieces you know are bronze. Also, knowing the flaws of a piece can be a negotiating tool. Mix a tiny bit into a small amount of the gold paint. Removing soil from urns and troughs will reduce the danger of frost damage. 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.

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• A rare or unusual color or design for a particular type of antique. WebMost sculptures are made from spelter or bronze. Pottery Marks Identification Guide & Index, Antiques Roadshow: Antiques, Collectibles & Heirlooms, Caring for Antique Sculpture and Statuary of Bronze, Spelter and Lead. 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. Its difficult to spot the differences between the two just by looking at them. Grey indicates spelter and red or brown points to resin. She is beautiful. Sapphire-colored cream pitchers from this era are rare. If the surface is smooth and hard you can lightly hose it with water, easing loosened dirt with a soft bristled brush. Care and Maintenance The color of your spelter clock case appears to me to be more like copper rather than bronze. 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]. Sherman is also the author of three film reference books, with a fourth currently under way. Some fakes use spelter zinc with a bronze finish but it isn't as richly detailed or as shiny as real bronze. For example, with glassware, mint implies no chips, cracks, or breaks. Plus, other tips to identify marks. How to Identify a Quality Bronze Sculpture - YouTube How to remove thick spray paint from Moreau spelter lamp? A sound surface can be cleaned with a soft bristled brush or cotton wool moistened in water with a few drops of non-ionic detergent added. How do you tell if a scupture is bronze or spelter? Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Apply the wax with a soft bristled brush and burnish gently with a soft cloth. I How do I know if the bronze horse I found is really a P.J. WebCheck out our bronze or spelter selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. 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. Web19K views 5 years ago Watch Dr. Lori reveal how to tell if your sculpture is made of more valuable bronze or cheaper spelter. When you find an antique that meets these five criteria, you've probably found an item that's likely to appreciate in value as the years go by. Her articles and essays have appeared in Redbook, Family Circle, Woman's Day, Reader's Digest, Family Life, and Ms.
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