Buying Bronze Statues
Bronze statues are a beautiful ornament to have in any household or garden and their strength and durability means that can resist the elements extremely well. When setting in a mould, bronze will expand and display the extremely fine detail, much better than other rougher materials, such as stone. The ancient Greeks were the first to use bronze to create statues but despite bronze's strength, may of these have not survived. Ornaments and statues were often melted down to make weapons during periods of war and thus, have not survived. Despite the time between the ancient and modern times, the recipe for bronze hasn't changed much. It is commonly 90% copper and 10% tin.
When looking for a sculpture for sale, A good sized bronze statue might cost anywhere between 1000 and 3000. This isn't always a reflection of age. The process of creating these sculptures is extremely time consuming and demands huge amounts of skill. The shape of the sculpture is created using wood or clay and the centre is hollowed out. This is then filled with wax to increase the strength of the mould. After the wax hardens, the cast is then covered in a ceramic solution and then covered in sand. This toughens it further, after which the wax on the inside is melted away. Once this is dry, it is ready for the bronze metal which is poured inside the cast. After this hardens, the cast is shattered and thrown away. Finally, the sculptor must fine tune and additional details on the statue.
Another reason why these statues are so expensive is because of their originality. No one statue is like any other and the uniqueness adds to their value greatly as pieces of art. Size is another factor. The more materials and time needed in the creation process will reflect on the price. It will also depend on where to decide to buy a statue. Going to a skilled artist who will create exactly the statue you want will also add to the cost.
So to ensure that you don't get ripped off, always look out for a certificate with every statue to verify the work is completely original. Any reputable gallery will have one with each of their works. This is to safeguard to sculptor as well as the buyer and maybe the gallery's reputation. If you are buying a sculpture for sale from an individual artist or second hand, check the quality of each statue before you purchase. Look out for any cracks or chips that may have formed as this can affect it's value. Also enquire about any areas of a statue that seem to be missing.