How is a bronze sculpture made?

The creation of a bronze sculpture, like any creative process, begins with a good idea. From this idea, the first sketches for a new bronze sculpture are made. After the sketches are adjusted and improved, a 3D model is sculpted in clay. In this way the sculpture gets its first tangible form. To obtain the desired end result, further adjustments and improvements are made. When the model in clay has been approved, the next step is to make the mold.

What is the cast made of?

The mold is made of a type of silicone that includes all the details of the original clay model. If a sculpture is too large to cast in one go, which is usually the case, several smaller molds are made. When we work with the lost wax technique, the mold is coated with hot wax. Once the layer of wax has cooled and dried, another layer of wax follows. This process is repeated until the wax reaches the desired thickness of the final bronze sculpture. When the desired thickness is reached, the silicone mold is removed and the casting channels are applied. The wax sculpture with casting channels is immersed in a bath of plaster and hung to dry. When the plaster is dry, the bronze can be cast. The bronze, an alloy of mainly copper with additional tin and zinc, is melted at a temperature of +/- 1200° C. Once the metal has become liquid, the bronze can be poured through the casting channels into the plaster mold. The hot mass of bronze will melt the wax and the bronze will take the place of the wax. When it has cooled sufficiently, the plastering shell can be removed and the cast bronze figurine emerges. The casting can now be removed and if the bronze cast is part of a larger sculpture, the various pieces must be welded together. After welding, all welds should also be carefully removed so that one cannot see where the statue has been put together. Finally, the sculpture must be given its final color. By nature, bronze is yellow or orange colored, but treatment with chemicals gives the bronze statue its final color or patina, this is called patination. Usually a bronze statue has a brown, green or black patina, but there are many other possibilities to give the statue its unique look.

View our bronze sculpture collection

So you can see that there is a lot involved in casting a bronze sculpture! And that one must have the necessary steel knowledge and craftsmanship to achieve a unique end result. In recent years we have increasingly focused on the bronze statues and stone statues collection. In this we try to offer the widest possible range. A bronze statue is always a wonderful addition as interior decoration, but also if you want to get garden decoration ideas, you can find a large amount of bronze statues that certainly deserve a nice place in your home or office. In addition, don’t forget to check out our paintings collection and our water ornaments. As an additional complement to a bronze sculpture, you can also get ideas from us when it comes to paintings, such as 3D metal paintings, canvas paintings, glass paintings etc etc. Come by soon and we will be happy to give you a tour of our showroom. Discover our large collection of bronze!