Applying the patina.
Photo courtesy of
Artworks Foundry.
comprised mostly of copper, with a
small percentage of tin and additives
such as silicon for workability and
resistance to corrosion.
nce the bron e has sufficiently
cooled, the ceramic mold is broken
apart, revealing the bronze casting.
he bron e figure is cleaned and
checked to ensure that every detail
of the original has been faithfully
reproduced. In some cases, the clay
model has been divided into several
pieces prior to the mold-making
process—the consequent cast pieces
are welded together prior to the
sculpture being hallmarked and
polished. Many sculptures are
limited to a specific number of
castings a “limited edition” . he
casting number and the edition
quantity are permanently stamped
near the artist’s signature.
Lastly, a patina is applied to the
figure. n metal castings, the patina
Whirlwind by Martin
Eichinger
is usually a coating of various
chemical compounds such as oxides,
carbonates, sulfides, or sulfates,
to change the appearance of the
surface, the application of the
chemicals with heat creating
variations in color and finish. he
result can be an appearance that
is anything from a creamy, polished
surface, more like marble than
bron e, to a finish that resembles