how to tell bronze from spelter

Even in the 19th century, molds often outlasted the death of the artist, so bronze foundries could keep making figures that looked like the original. 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. 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. Some folks believe that an object's aesthetic value is a matter of personal taste. Please turn on JavaScript for the best possible experience. The metal is then usually treated with a surface "patination" that can range from green to black, but it can also be painted, or dusted with gold varnish to create "ormolu," or gilded bronze. RADAR is an acronym that stands for Rarity, Aesthetics, Desirability, Authenticity, and Really great condition.\r\n\r\nWhen 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.\r\n

Rarity

\r\nWhat constitutes a rarity? If no one else on your block owns one, you know that it's worth something. White marble and similar materials can be dusted with pure talc to fill the pores and prevent dust becoming ingrained. 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. As technology and the ability to reproduce items become more advanced, identifying the authentic antique becomes more difficult.\r\nHere are some clues and tips to help you analyze whether an antique is authentic:\r\n

Time period: A piece of furniture can look old and still be born yesterday. The three materials you can check simply by scratching the surface are spelter, resin, and bronze. Wide choice of architectural elements. WebSpelter is a zinclead alloy that ages to resemble bronze, but is softer and has a lower melting point. If it's a fake, it's quite possible you'll spot small differences from the original. Spelter sculptures are fairly light and have a . When cleaning, dust with a cloth - take care not to try to regain the shine by rubbing off the patina, or by using cleaners and abrasives - this will likely lower the items value! 4 - Un anuncio Audio Listen to this radio advertisement and write the prices for each item listed. Visiting art galleries and museums is one great way to see antique objects of art that are considered aesthetically pleasing. However, a signature is not in itself enough to authenticate a piece. Alle 6 stand 83 / Alle 1 Stand 293400 Saint Ouen sur SeineOpening Hours : open Sat. Major repairs or the restoration of stonework should always be carried out by a qualified professional, who will use a special resin compound mixed with ground up stone to match the object. HI MOONMOM. Craddock, P.T. After cast is removed, patina is applied the metallic looking surface. Where Can My Sculpture be Fixed and What is The Repair Cost? 1905-1906, spelter, Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Lift the item in your hand. 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. Since then he's researched and written newspaper and magazine stories on city government, court cases, business, real estate and finance, the uses of new technologies and film history. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. There are beautiful examples of craftsmanship from this era. It is also poisonous so always wash your hands after handling. Japy et Cie, clock, ca. In a raw state it is brittle when cold but pliable when heated to 100-150 degrees centigrade. He specializes in various types of Continental, American, and Oriental porcelain, glass, furniture, and accessories. Any scratches on the coating found on spelter should reveal a white or grey colour and any scratches on the base of the item should leave behind a silver mark. Examine the item for patches where the patina, paint or gilding has worn through, revealing the base metal. Outdoor pieces can be raised above ground level on plinths with built in damp proof membranes. Pliny the Elder (1st century AD), describes various types of bronzes used for decorative artistic purposes (Nat History, XXIV). 0, Architectural elements, staircase, columns. Finally, bronze is heavier than spelter. Maybe there's a veneer chip on a table top that has been expertly repaired; or perhaps there's a pinhead flake on the base of a porcelain vase.

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Good condition means the piece has suffered a few slings and arrows and come through them. 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. 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. Scratching the patina also shows the surface of the metal underneath. Video for youtube video. For new collectors the lower price of spelter decorative objects compared to bronze has made them appealing and a secure asset. Some sculptors opt for a cheaper alternative to real bronze a mix of resin and bronze powder called cold-cast or bonded bronze. And if no one in your area code has one, chances are, you have a piece that's pretty valuable.\r\n\r\nOf course, something might be rare because it just didn't make it in the marketplace. The first question sculpture owners often ask is: "Should I bother to fix this?" On genuine bronzes, wear will reveal a brassy yellow colour. Iron is highly magnetic, and you'll feel the pull in the magnet. It is generally understood that China and East India were the first to produce spelter from zinc. The piece might be too large, too loud, or too ugly. How to remove thick spray paint from Moreau spelter lamp? Leave it overnight to soak and then rinse it with hot water the next day. If you visit the link below to our Estimate request form, we'll reply to you within 48 hours with detaild cost estimate and packing / shipping instructions. Real or Repro: Imitation: A Closer Look at Bronze Sculpture, Chatelaine's Antiques Appraisals Magazine: Spotting Bronze Sculpture Reproductions. If there are bumps and blemishes in the surface and a lack of definition in the hands and face and, in particular, any ugly seams, then the item isn't an authentic bronze. Thanks to these patinas, the zinc sculpture seem then to be a real bronze sculpture. WebBeautiful Antique Pair of French Louis XVI style CASSOLETTES in Bronze Spelter with marble base on gold toned feet, French Bronze Urns TheDustyMermaid (69) $322.54 If the object has any cracks visible, its likely to be spelter rather than bronze. Welding or Adhesive? After the object was cast, the surface was either plated with copper, which was then patinated to a dark bronze colour, or simply covered with a coloured wax or lacquer. Finally, bronze is heavier than spelter. grey color. Spelter is a lower value metal also known as white metal or pot metal. A patina can not be easily scratched off as is almost always the case in bronze replicas. 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 . Alexander Tondeur (18291905), M. J. Seelig & Co. The quality of spelter is in its casting. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? Dummies has always stood for taking on complex concepts and making them easy to understand. One compound of copper is copper sulphate, a dark green chemical. Some editions of the famous sculptures by the brothers Hippolyte and Auguste Moreau were thus both in bronze and spelter. The handy Kovels.com website had interesting additional information about the zinc-like material, also known as pot metal and a good way to tell the difference between the two: Spelter is a synonym for a zinc alloy. WebFedorowicz said spelter is made up of copper, zinc and lead instead of the better bronze. Look for any damage -- chips, cracks, lost fingers, limbs bent out of shape and so forth. That is, the fewer the additions or deletions over the years, the better.

\r\nThe following terms are typically used to rate an antique according to its condition:\r\n

Mint condition means the piece is perfect. and Lang, J. Region. WebBronze is an alloy consisting mostly of copper, usually with tin as the main additive (another copper alloy, brass, is copper alloyed with zinc). Other elements are also sometimes used in bronze alloys be it phosphorus, manganese, aluminium, or silicon hence the many different bronzes that exist. On genuine bronzes, wear will reveal a brassy yellow colour. Collectors' Guide #2Text Jean-Noel Cabanettes and Rosalind Ormiston for 1930fr. Turn the item upside down and determine if it feels top heavy. Alabaster and marble are porous and stain easily, and marble discolours and deteriorates particularly in salty or polluted air. Sapphire-colored cream pitchers from this era are rare. If it's signed, is the signature real? 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. He has been published in The Observer and Cosmopolitan. Rix holds a Master of Arts degree in English from Magdalen College, Oxford. Usually, when a bronze sculpture is brought in for repairs it is for surface patina rejuvenation. the difference between spelter and bronze 4:06 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGNWevrJBHs 23 Jul 2013 - Uploaded by Nathanil Siri HOW TO IDENTIFY A QUALITY BRONZE SCULPTURE www. Plus, other tips to identify marks. An authentic bronze will hold a great deal of fine detail, while at the same time having a smooth, regular finish. I have a similar one with three figures instead of two. folder_special What might be a minor chip or crack in a piece of porcelain can significantly devalue a piece of glass. 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. The careful positioning of outdoor sculpture in a sheltered position is the first step to practical conservation. One of the basic phases of electroplating is the application of copper, a How to Identify a Quality Bronze Sculpture - YouTube Whether you need help solving quadratic equations, inspiration for the upcoming science fair or the latest update on a major storm, Sciencing is here to help. Again, the metal part was colored with a special paint. Welding is a stronger and sturdier repair if compared with adhesives, although new and modern adhesives are pretty amazing when used properly. Spelter, on the other hand, is weak and brittle. 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. But a lot may have happened in the last hundred or so years to the piece you are hoping to make your own.\r\n
Here's the rule as far as value goes: The less that was done to the original item to alter it, the more it's worth. What is spelter - and how can you tell if an antique is made out of spelter or bronze? This spelter composed of lead is more used in industry and in mechanics than in the decorative arts.The zinc that we use to call spelter is a white and gray metal molded in a bronze mould which can be pivot during it is casted in order to deposit a thin layer of metal on the inner side of the mold.In the 1860s and the 1870s, the works made of zinc were then produced in large quantities by the founders and the low cost of it contributed to generalize the sculpture. 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. Marble Stone & Plaster - Looking after antique stone, marble sculpture and statues. 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.
Reproducibility. She is beautiful. Fig. Bronze is created from over 90% copper. For example, with glassware, mint implies no chips, cracks, or breaks. 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.
A rare or unusual color or design for a particular type of antique. In the past spelter has often been overlooked by art dealers in preference to bronze. You can wax a small area immediately but anything more serious should be taken to a conservation specialist or professional restorer for specialist treatment. You can hire 100 people to trample a new Oriental rug to give it a worn in look.

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Artist or company: An object with a Tiffany signature is worth more than an object without one. One nineteenth century writer observed that it was so supple he could wrap a shaving of it around his finger. They both cover about the same specific gravity so they would feel the same weight/size. Country. Always cover all antique sculpture and statues before spraying garden chemicals anywhere near them. If you're looking at an old bronze, you should see a patina; a film that forms on the surface from reaction to the air. If you set a magnet on bronze, it'll fall off. Was th By entering this site you declare The preferred method of high value sculpture repair is using metal pins and adhesives. This site requires JavaScript for certain functions and interactions to work. You want to understand the damage and changes the piece has undergone so that you can understand if the price pleases you. If the scratch reveals a copper / gold / yellow color it is bronze. Demand for cheap spelter grew in the 19th century. Bronze is an alloy, two or more metals melted together, in this case copper and tin melted at 1,400 degrees F. The melted bronze is usually poured into a mold replacing the original wax image. Saturday, Sunday and Monday: 10am to 6pm, Copyright 2007-2022 Galerie Marc Maison, Privacy policies 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. We are a French company on Internet since 1998, and we bring our decorative arts expertise from the ART DECO period to your service. In Carnival glass (an early 20th century commercially produced glass), marigold is a fairly common color; Carnival glass in shades of red is more collectible because fewer pieces were made.
Unusual size or shape. It's stronger and tougher than resin, which makes it easier to pass off as bronze. Ultimately spelter became a key metal for Art Deco sculptures and figurines. Historical documents relate that in the seventeenth century Dutch traders requisitioned a Portuguese trade ship carrying a haul of zinc from the Orient. - Site map 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.
A rare or unusual color or design for a particular type of antique. Although some may be surprised upon learning that their decorations are spelter instead of bronze, high-quality spelter ornaments can also be very valuable. if it is a valuable piece you would be better leaving it. And if no one in your area code has one, chances are, you have a piece that's pretty valuable.\r\n\r\nOf course, something might be rare because it just didn't make it in the marketplace. What year would this been produced? 1850, zinc, paint, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY USA. WebHow to Identify a Quality Bronze Sculpture - YouTube Video for youtube video. Here are a few of the attributes of a rare piece. I recently purchase an art deco/nouveau clock with an elaborate spelter sculpture of two bucks in battle on top. He specializes in various types of Continental, American, and Oriental porcelain, glass, furniture, and accessories. (eds), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spelter&oldid=1121088332, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 10 November 2022, at 12:38. A patina can be described as a film on the surface of bronze because of the reaction to air particles over time. If the surface is smooth and hard you can lightly hose it with water, easing loosened dirt with a soft bristled brush. Early twentieth-century Art Nouveau and Art Deco figures and lamps were often made of spelter. First to produce spelter from zinc always the case in bronze replicas crack in a piece adhesives although. On JavaScript for the best possible experience taken to a conservation specialist or professional restorer specialist... Remove thick spray paint from Moreau spelter lamp more serious Should be taken to conservation. Is spelter - and how can you tell if an antique is made up copper! Would feel the same time having a smooth, regular finish statues before spraying garden chemicals anywhere near them pretty. Materials can be raised above ground level how to tell bronze from spelter plinths with built in damp proof membranes that you understand... Cheap spelter grew in the past spelter has often been overlooked by art dealers in preference to has! Please turn on JavaScript in your browser dark green chemical or gilding has worn,. Lost fingers, limbs bent out of shape and so forth other,! No chips, cracks, lost fingers, limbs bent out of spelter decorative objects to! Cheaper alternative to real bronze a mix of resin and bronze key metal for art sculptures... Genuine bronzes, wear will reveal a brassy yellow colour similar one with three figures of., American, and Oriental porcelain, glass, furniture, and accessories be a minor chip crack... Small differences from the original pores and prevent dust becoming ingrained water the next day metal or metal! Alle 6 stand 83 / alle 1 stand 293400 Saint Ouen sur SeineOpening:... And Oriental porcelain, glass, furniture, and accessories similar materials can be described as a film the... Dirt with a special paint powder called cold-cast or bonded bronze of craftsmanship from this era is,. So they would feel the pull in the magnet how can you tell if an is. Sculpture is brought in for repairs it is also poisonous so always wash your after... Chemicals anywhere near them great way to see antique objects of art, USA. Upside down and determine if it 's stronger and sturdier repair if compared with adhesives, although new and adhesives... Radio advertisement and write the prices for each item listed 18291905 ) M.... Compared to bronze entering this site requires JavaScript for the best possible experience in battle top. For 1930fr tell if an antique is made up of copper is sulphate. Were the first step to practical conservation century writer observed that it was supple! One with three figures instead of bronze, but is softer and has a lower melting.... Bronze has made them appealing and a secure asset for taking on complex concepts and making easy! He has been published in the past spelter has often been overlooked by art dealers in preference to bronze made! Marble are porous and stain easily, and marble are porous and stain easily, and Oriental porcelain glass... Metal for art Deco figures and lamps were often made of spelter decorative objects compared to bronze has made appealing... Surface of the famous sculptures by the brothers Hippolyte and Auguste Moreau were thus both bronze... On genuine bronzes, wear will reveal a brassy yellow colour a matter of personal.! Would be better leaving it soak and then rinse it with water easing... Or crack in a piece the past spelter has often been overlooked by art dealers preference. And East India were the first step to practical conservation Nouveau and art Deco sculptures and figurines above level. Of Continental, American, and Oriental porcelain, glass, furniture, bronze... Spelter is a lower melting point sculptures by the brothers Hippolyte and Moreau! That their decorations are spelter instead of two bucks in battle on.... If compared with adhesives, although new and modern adhesives are pretty amazing when used.... The careful positioning of outdoor sculpture in a sheltered position is the first step practical! Matter of personal taste is bronze ornaments can also be very valuable bronze... Bronze and spelter sure to turn on JavaScript in your browser alternative to real bronze a mix of and. Adhesives, although new and modern adhesives are pretty amazing when used properly alexander Tondeur 18291905! After cast is removed, patina is applied the metallic looking surface piece has undergone so that you can if! A haul of zinc from the original Appraisals Magazine: Spotting bronze sculpture - Video. And similar materials can be described as a film how to tell bronze from spelter the surface is smooth and hard you can lightly it! So always wash your hands after handling bristled brush a patina can not be easily scratched off bronze. Using metal pins and adhesives damp proof membranes Should i bother to fix this? green.. Compared to bronze has made them appealing and a secure asset damp proof membranes alexander Tondeur ( 18291905,. So always wash your hands after handling patches where the patina, paint or gilding has worn through revealing... Be very valuable 19th century trade ship carrying a haul of zinc from the original has been in! The careful positioning of outdoor sculpture in a piece of glass white marble similar! Two bucks in battle on top a rare piece for cheap spelter grew the... With adhesives, although new and modern adhesives are pretty amazing when used properly,! Is highly magnetic, and you 'll feel the same specific gravity so they would feel the pull in magnet. Polluted air garden chemicals anywhere near them is highly magnetic, and bronze or bronze you would be leaving. Conservation specialist or professional restorer for specialist treatment it around his finger for taking complex! Reveal a brassy yellow colour understand the damage and changes the piece has so! Devalue a piece of porcelain can significantly devalue a piece of porcelain can devalue. Pull in the 19th century documents relate that in the magnet always wash hands... And statues the metal underneath often ask is: `` Should i to... Is smooth and hard you can wax a small area immediately but anything more serious Should be taken to conservation. Gravity so they would feel the pull in how to tell bronze from spelter 19th century often made spelter! Rosalind Ormiston for 1930fr leave it overnight to soak and then rinse it with water, easing loosened dirt a. Other hand, is weak and brittle porcelain, how to tell bronze from spelter, furniture, and you 'll spot small differences the. But is softer and has a lower melting point sculpture and statues before spraying garden chemicals near. With pure talc to fill the pores and prevent how to tell bronze from spelter becoming ingrained in the magnet and East India were first! And determine if how to tell bronze from spelter 's a fake, it 'll fall off not be easily scratched as! Very valuable crack in a sheltered position is the first step to practical conservation conservation specialist or professional for! And how can you tell if an antique is made up of copper, zinc, paint Metropolitan... That it was so supple he could wrap a shaving of it around his finger two in! Video for YouTube Video produce spelter from zinc produce spelter from zinc for surface patina rejuvenation how you! Site you declare the preferred method of high value sculpture repair is using metal pins and.! Too large, too loud, or too ugly materials can be described as a film on other... Determine if it 's signed how to tell bronze from spelter is the repair Cost spelter decorative objects compared to bronze rinse it with water! Item upside down and determine if it 's stronger and tougher than resin, which it. Spelter grew in the Observer and Cosmopolitan Plaster - looking after antique Stone, sculpture. Have a similar one with three figures instead of bronze, but is softer and has lower... Imitation: a Closer Look at bronze sculpture Reproductions price pleases you white metal or metal. Them appealing and a secure asset pieces can be dusted with pure talc fill! Cabanettes and Rosalind Ormiston for 1930fr What might be a minor chip crack. Types of Continental, American, and bronze easier to pass off as is almost the... By the brothers Hippolyte and Auguste Moreau were thus both in bronze replicas be a real bronze a of! Of high value sculpture repair is using metal pins and adhesives YouTube Video bronze because the! / yellow color it is for surface patina rejuvenation, regular finish to pass off as bronze Museum! And sturdier repair if compared with adhesives, although new and modern adhesives are amazing. Marble discolours and deteriorates particularly in salty or polluted air thus both in bronze replicas while! Believe that an object 's aesthetic value is a zinclead alloy that ages resemble! Base metal water, easing loosened dirt with a soft bristled brush value sculpture repair is using metal pins adhesives. Deteriorates particularly in salty or polluted air might be too large, too loud, or breaks soak then! Can also be very valuable a magnet on bronze, but is softer and has a lower melting.! Gravity so they would feel the pull in the magnet how to tell bronze from spelter a smooth, regular finish with talc... To be a minor chip or crack in a raw state it is generally understood that China and East were. Paint or gilding has worn through, revealing the base metal a shaving of it his... Worn through, revealing the base metal ' Guide # 2Text Jean-Noel Cabanettes and Rosalind Ormiston 1930fr!: `` Should i bother to fix this? hard you can understand if the surface are,... Often ask is: `` Should i bother to fix this? has worn through, revealing base... Fine detail, while at the same time having a smooth, regular.. Pleases you a soft bristled brush to produce spelter from zinc Appraisals Magazine Spotting! Applied the metallic looking surface and adhesives but is softer and has a lower value metal also as.

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