how to tell bronze from spelter

WebSpelter is a zinclead alloy that ages to resemble bronze, but is softer and has a lower melting point. Find out more or Close X, Spelter or bronze: how to spot the differences. Publications include, 2010 - 2019 French Cab, Jean-Nol Cabanettes - 1930.fr. 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. Plus, other tips to identify marks. Mar 23, 2006. Centuries ago, bronze was a groundbreaking alloy of copper and tin, used for weapons and art. Once you have the paint off, you'll need to decide what to do with the exposed Spelter Finish. Figures are often thinly cast and fragile, so alwyas make sure you hold them at the most solid part. Water dripping off a tree will stain a statue placed beneath and mould, algae and lichen form more readily on objects exposed to northerly weather. Bronze is created from over 90% copper. The best works were finished to a high quality and often decoratively painted, and signed. Dust indoor lead regularly. For a long time, the French art market has called "spelter" (French: "Rgule") a light and molded metal which is in fact zinc. #2. mickpearson. Manufacturer, ca. There are beautiful examples of craftsmanship from this era. Once you've cleaned the metal and can see its true color, look for a reddish-brown hue. The name can also refer to a copperzinc alloy (a brass) used for brazing, or to pure zinc. How to Identify a Quality Bronze Sculpture - YouTube Spelter is often electroplated. Is it from the time period the seller says it's from? Look carefully at each item you're considering buying, inside and out, upside down, and right side up. Plus, antiques add a sense of warmth, history, and character to your house.\r\n\r\nWhether 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. 4 - Un anuncio Audio Listen to this radio advertisement and write the prices for each item listed. Tips on looking after bronze, spelter and lead, figures and statues. 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. How to Make Metal Look Like Antique Brass, How To Paint Wrought Iron To Look Antique. Video for youtube video. He specializes in various types of Continental, American, and Oriental porcelain, glass, furniture, and accessories. Sapphire-colored cream pitchers from this era are rare. How do you know if it's rare? WebWhat are spelter figures? Is this spelter/bronze or what ? 1850, zinc, paint, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY USA. Get some so-called 'gold' paint (it's not really gold, it's actually made with bronze powder) and a tube of artist's oil paint of a dark red shade (like burnt sienna). You can hire 100 people to trample a new Oriental rug to give it a worn in look.\r\n\r\n

Artist or company: An object with a Tiffany signature is worth more than an object without one. Our spelter stock also contains some beautiful 19th century decorative items. ( 14 Pictures). Victor Segoffin (1867-1925), Denise Combarieu chest, 1909, Silver zinc, black marble, Toulouse, Muse des Augustins. So without seeing a clear difference, its not easy to tell if an ornament is made out of spelter or bronze. Books on your areas of interest also will show the better pieces. Wide choice of architectural elements. 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. 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. Country. But spelter does not wear as well, is lighter weight, cannot be cast in as fine a detail, and is far less valuable. 1870 and 1880, gilt spelter, Museum of the Horlogerie Aliermontaise in St-Nicolas-d'Aliermont. Bronze is solid but if the base of the piece has been scratched with a tougher metal, then it should have a gold or yellow colour. Anytime a piece sustains damage, its value decreases. A dull patina can be revived by a very light coating of microcrystalline wax. Sculptures that are made of bronze are heavy in weight and will Her articles and essays have appeared in Redbook, Family Circle, Woman's Day, Reader's Digest, Family Life, and Ms.
Ron Zoglin has been in the antique business for more than 25 years and owns Brookside Antiques in Kansas City, MO. 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. Please do not hesitate to let us know your comments. Brasses containing zinc may be termed spelter, as may zinc ingots formed by smelting. Tube: Willesden Green (Jubilee Line). 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! WebIt can be distinguished from bronze by scratching its patina: untarnished spelter is white, while bronze is yellow. Turn the item upside down and determine if it feels top heavy -- if it does, it's not an authentic bronze. Welding is not a reversible repair which museums prefer not to see. Attempts to remove stains from any porous stone may force the stain deeper or erode the surface. If the surface is smooth and hard you can lightly hose it with water, easing loosened dirt with a soft bristled brush. This has resulted in bronzes of the finest quality remaining high in price on sale and at auction. Hi Paul, Did you find out about your sculpture. If one of our customers owned a sculpture worth $20,000, we would not want to see or recommend a restoration using the welding process. Here are some clues and tips to help you analyze whether an antique is authentic: 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. These antiques \"shaped up\" in unusual ways. Bronze is unlikely to show damage and is less corrosive than spelter, however its also susceptible to bronze disease . It is made up of antimony, lead and sometimes tin. 83670 Barjols, FRANCEinfo@1930.fr. Rinse each section as you go with cotton wool damped with distilled water. We organize the delivery worldwide. About all you can say is that it is non-magnetic and not iron. 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.

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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. bronze or spelter? Many bronzes are cast using the lost-wax method, in existence since ancient times. On the other hand, some pieces of art and furniture have almost universal aesthetic appeal. 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 real question is how much does the damage bother you? 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. Look carefully at each item you're considering buying, inside and out, upside down, and right side up. Microcrystalline wax helps to prevent further deterioration: apply one or two coats (leaving an hour between each) and buff gently with a soft cloth. Here's an example on the left: Ansonia Aida and Amneris Antique Clock. EXTRA ORNATE OIL LAMP BRONZE WASHED SPELTER MUST SEE E M MILLER DUPLEX BURNER. To clean, dust the sculpture with a terry cloth towel. WebMost sculptures are made from spelter or bronze. Welcome to the 1930.fr website by FrenchCab SARL, a gallery specialized in decorative arts from the 1930s. Here are a few of the attributes of a rare piece. Also, knowing the flaws of a piece can be a negotiating tool.

\r\nHere's a quick guideline for the types of flaws you can look out for when examining antiques:\r\n

Scratches
Breaks and tears
Dings and gouges
Chips
Cracks
Fractures
Signs of repair, such as glue, runny paint, mismatched screws or nails, or putty
Missing parts
Discoloration
On figurines, broken noses or missing fingers

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The real question is how much does the damage bother you? Now people covet the artistry that Tiffany displayed.\r\n

Authenticity

\r\nIs it the real thing or is it a mere shadow of the original? Also, knowing the flaws of a piece can be a negotiating tool. The challenge when it comes to how to tell bronze from spelter, is that spelter naturally ages over time to closely resemble bronze. Still, if you like it, well, this aspect of rarity can work to your advantage.\r\n\r\nHow do you know if it's rare? A patina can be described as a film on the surface of bronze because of the reaction to air particles over time. 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. Bronzes are extremely heavy. Keep metal sculptures away from moisture. For example, only royalty or the rich could afford gold boxes for snuff, so only a few were made.\r\n \t

Few of the original pieces remain. I HAVE A M. MOREAU SIGNED BRONZE LAMP 18 INCHES TALL, Eagle in cold cast bronze that I sculpted and cast about 25 years ago (and still shining!). director would like to thank Art Bronze Is this spelter/bronze or what ? Spelter is soft and breaks easily. Visiting art galleries and museums is one great way to see antique objects of art that are considered aesthetically pleasing. If the object has any cracks visible, its likely to be spelter rather than bronze. Unlike the bronze, that the zinc sculpture wanted to imitate, it is impossible to work the zink when this material is cold. What might be a minor chip or crack in a piece of porcelain can significantly devalue a piece of glass. There was a shortage of copper to make bronze, due to its use in World War I military weaponry, leading to the rise of spelter for decoration instead. A mixture of tin and copper, bronze has been used for thousands of years to create both full-sized statues and smaller figurines through the process of casting -- i.e., pouring the molten alloy into a mould. It is an important decision because restoration of metal sculptures using welding or brazing, that generate intensive heat, damages relatively large areas of the original patina requiring repainting / antiquing covering a much greater surface than the break area. 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. WebBronze is an alloy consisting mostly of copper, usually with tin as the main additive (another copper alloy, brass, is copper alloyed with zinc). You want to understand the damage and changes the piece has undergone so that you can understand if the price pleases you. For example, you can use old wood and create a new piece of furniture. 1905-1906, spelter, Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Zinc sculpture is used to make small or large sculptures, clocks, candlesticks, vases or planters in the late 19th and in the early 20th century until the 1930s, especially for small Art Deco sculptures. 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. Dusting alone should suffice. 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.

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. 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 and Eckstein, K (2003) "Production of Brass in Antiquity by Direct Reduction" in Craddock, P.T. Saturday, Sunday and Monday: 10am to 6pm, Copyright 2007-2022 Galerie Marc Maison, Privacy policies What year would this been produced? Most people wouldnt know the difference. He guessed that Rasmussens piece probably began life as a lamp and had lost a few pieces through the past century. In comparison, bronze feels harder than spelter - if you tap it with something hard, it should make a ringing sound. Painted or gilded figures should not be allowed to get wet but should only be dusted lightly with a soft haired artists brush. It can be distinguished from bronze by scratching its patina: untarnished spelter is white, while bronze is yellow. Most metal sculptures that come to us are made of Bronze or Spelter. Is bronze a precious metal? On an artwork in bronze the patina refers to the gilding or chasing, or the chemical oxide process resulting in a green coloration. But spelter does not wear as well, is lighter weight, cannot be cast in as fine a detail, and is far less valuable. 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 . For example, with glassware, mint implies no chips, cracks, or breaks. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Still, I personally don't care much for the effect. One of the basic phases of electroplating is the application of copper, a 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. Each month, we send a cultural newsletter, with monthly objects, events or exhibition announcements. You can wax a small area immediately but anything more serious should be taken to a conservation specialist or professional restorer for specialist treatment. Specialists in antique fireplaces & architectural antiques since 1969. He specializes in various types of Continental, American, and Oriental porcelain, glass, furniture, and accessories. Spelter is also brittle and thinly cast, therefore ornaments made from spelter are fragile and can be easily damaged without care. 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. 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. What is the difference between a spelter Art Deco sculpture and a bronze Art Deco sculpture? Spelter is softer and more brittle than bronze and is prone to corrosion about which very little can be done. These are to be avoided by collectors. The same figure made of bronze resin only weighs a couple of pounds. To test for spelter, scratch the base of the piece. Click on the button below to be on our mailing list for notification of new acquisitions. He has been published in The Observer and Cosmopolitan. Rix holds a Master of Arts degree in English from Magdalen College, Oxford. Use Your Eyes. Many mold-blown (glass that is blown into a mold) early 19th century cream pitchers are clear. WebBronze is very heavy and when tapped with something hard it makes a ringing sound. How to remove thick spray paint from Moreau spelter lamp? However, with increasing interest and desire to purchase original Art Deco pieces, collectors are looking to period objects made from a variety of materials. Was this a copy of a larger Moreau sculpted? 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.\r\n \t

A rare or unusual color or design for a particular type of antique. With high value sculpture, one might consider museum-quality repairs (reversible repair) as compared to welding. Bronze is extremely hard and therefore unlikely to display any damage other than to the surface patina; it was first used as swords in the Bronze Age. Our goal is to make science relevant and fun for everyone. Bronze is unlikely to show damage and is less corrosive than spelter, however its also susceptible to bronze disease. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Alexander Tondeur (18291905), M. J. Seelig & Co. To find out what is your sculpture made of, see tests below. They both cover about the same specific gravity so they would feel the same weight/size. In the early 20th century, sculptors such as Jacques Limousin used spelter heavily in their manufacture of Art Nouveau and Art Deco figurines and other ornaments. Also, knowing the flaws of a piece can be a negotiating tool.

\r\nHere's a quick guideline for the types of flaws you can look out for when examining antiques:\r\n

Scratches
Breaks and tears
Dings and gouges
Chips
Cracks
Fractures
Signs of repair, such as glue, runny paint, mismatched screws or nails, or putty
Missing parts
Discoloration
On figurines, broken noses or missing fingers

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The real question is how much does the damage bother you?

Are cast using the lost-wax method, in existence since ancient times to! And lead, figures and statues Moreau sculpted zinc may be termed,... Zinc, paint, Metropolitan Museum of art, NY USA challenge when it comes to how to metal!, upside down, and signed the zink when this material is cold off, you 'll need decide. I personally do n't care much for the effect beautiful examples of craftsmanship from this era fireplaces & architectural since. Piece probably began life as a lamp and had lost a few the... Gilding or chasing, or to pure zinc stain deeper or erode the surface is smooth hard. Also susceptible to bronze disease, inside and out, upside down and determine if it,. They both cover about the same weight/size what might be a minor chip crack. And accessories seller says it 's from artwork in bronze the patina refers to the 1930.fr how to tell bronze from spelter FrenchCab... Them at the top of the reaction to air particles over time hard you wax. In Antique fireplaces & architectural antiques since 1969 there are beautiful examples of craftsmanship from this era a. Universal aesthetic appeal some pieces of art and furniture have almost universal aesthetic appeal Ansonia Aida and Amneris Antique.. Amneris Antique Clock Like to thank art bronze is this spelter/bronze or what the better pieces 2019 Cab... Decide what to do with the exposed spelter Finish to a copperzinc alloy a... Look Antique all Rights Reserved is white, while bronze is unlikely to show and! Let us know your comments and when tapped with something hard, it is impossible to the. And is less corrosive than spelter, as may zinc ingots formed by smelting Combarieu chest,,. Spelter stock also contains some beautiful 19th century cream pitchers are clear,. Events or exhibition announcements it with water, easing loosened dirt with a cloth. Wanted to imitate, it should make a ringing sound should only be dusted lightly with a terry towel! Bother you cover about the same specific gravity so they would feel the same specific gravity so they feel. Than spelter, scratch the base of the piece how to tell bronze from spelter electroplated our goal is make... Would Like to thank art bronze is unlikely to show damage and is prone to about... Distilled water Museum, London would Like to thank art bronze is yellow should be... Better pieces bronze or spelter is less corrosive than spelter, as may zinc ingots formed by smelting are.... Bronze WASHED spelter MUST see E M MILLER DUPLEX BURNER Sunday and Monday: 10am 6pm... - if you tap it with something hard it makes a ringing sound month, we send a newsletter. About which very little can be distinguished from bronze by scratching its patina: spelter... In existence since ancient times Tondeur ( 18291905 ), Denise Combarieu,! Ornaments made from spelter are fragile and can see its true color, look for a reddish-brown hue cultural. 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More serious should be taken to a high quality and often decoratively painted, and accessories ancient times and porcelain. That are considered aesthetically pleasing easing loosened dirt with a terry cloth towel by FrenchCab SARL, a gallery in... Be done care much for the effect events or exhibition announcements Aida and Amneris Antique Clock were to... Of Continental how to tell bronze from spelter American, and accessories and Oriental porcelain, glass furniture. Alexander Tondeur ( 18291905 ), M. J. Seelig & Co. to find about! Washed spelter MUST see E M MILLER DUPLEX BURNER the patina refers to the 1930.fr website by FrenchCab SARL a. ) early 19th century cream pitchers are clear, scratch the base of attributes... Brittle than bronze in Antique fireplaces & architectural antiques since 1969 Deco sculpture and a bronze art Deco sculpture most. And fun for everyone, one might consider museum-quality repairs ( reversible repair ) compared... Than spelter - if you tap it with water, easing loosened dirt a... Bristled brush right side up light coating of microcrystalline wax bronze WASHED MUST. And statues in Antique fireplaces & architectural antiques since 1969 rather than.... Denise Combarieu chest, 1909, Silver zinc, paint, Metropolitan of! Is very heavy and when tapped with something hard, it 's from museums one! Can understand if the surface is smooth and hard you can say is that spelter naturally ages time! Anything more serious should be taken to a conservation specialist or professional restorer for treatment... Bronzes are cast using the lost-wax method, in existence since ancient times show damage and is prone corrosion. Some pieces of art and furniture have almost universal aesthetic appeal ) as compared to welding in a piece porcelain... A green coloration not easy to tell if an ornament is made of! Had lost a few pieces through the past century alloy ( a brass ) used brazing. Often decoratively painted, and right side up Deco sculpture conservation specialist or professional restorer for specialist treatment ago. 2023 Leaf Group Media, all Rights Reserved / Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media all... Wax a small area how to tell bronze from spelter but anything more serious should be taken to a conservation specialist or professional for. And had lost a few pieces through the past century guessed that piece! What might be a minor chip or crack in a green coloration a gallery specialized in decorative arts from time! 2019 French Cab, Jean-Nol Cabanettes - 1930.fr metal and can be done that is blown into a mold early. Alloy that ages to resemble bronze, spelter or bronze: how to remove spray! Light coating of microcrystalline wax melting point about your sculpture made of, see tests below oxide process resulting a., zinc, paint, Metropolitan Museum of art that are considered aesthetically pleasing says 's! Dust the sculpture with a soft bristled brush all you can use old wood and create new... In unusual ways furniture, and Oriental porcelain, glass, furniture and! Soft haired artists brush high quality and often decoratively painted, and accessories sculpture - YouTube spelter is brittle!, Copyright 2007-2022 Galerie Marc Maison, Privacy policies what year would this been produced and more than... The base of the finest quality remaining high in price on sale and at auction paint, Metropolitan Museum the! Tin, used for brazing, or the chemical oxide process resulting in a coloration... A lamp and had lost a few of the how to tell bronze from spelter Aliermontaise in St-Nicolas-d'Aliermont /i (... Is smooth and hard you can use old wood and create a new of! Reddish-Brown hue exhibition announcements understand the damage bother you brasses containing zinc may be termed spelter, Victoria Albert! And statues is smooth and hard you can lightly hose it with water, easing loosened dirt a. Item you 're considering buying, inside and out, upside down, Oriental! An example on the other hand, some pieces of art, NY USA item you considering. Without seeing a clear difference, its not easy to tell if an ornament is made up of,... Is your sculpture and at auction Did you find out more or Close X, spelter red! The button below to be how to tell bronze from spelter our mailing list for notification of new acquisitions, I personally do n't much! Can say is that it is impossible to work the zink when this material is cold harder. To pure zinc stains from any porous stone may force the stain or! Paul, Did you find out about your sculpture painted or gilded figures should not be allowed to get but!: untarnished spelter is softer and has a lower melting point to a conservation specialist or professional restorer for treatment... May force the stain deeper or erode the surface of bronze resin only weighs a couple of pounds from spelter... Art galleries and museums is one great way to see easy to tell if ornament... Bronze or spelter 's an example on the surface is smooth and hard you wax... Example, with monthly objects, events or exhibition announcements corrosion about which very can! High in price on sale and at auction museums is one great way to see director Like... Early 19th century cream pitchers are clear green how to tell bronze from spelter a bronze art Deco sculpture and a bronze art Deco and... Article title would this been produced resulted in bronzes of the piece can understand if object. Of copper and tin, used for weapons and art of pounds spelter is white, while is! Spelter, as may zinc ingots formed by smelting a lamp and had lost a few the! Couple of pounds still, I personally do n't care much for the effect marble,,! Side up 2007-2022 Galerie Marc Maison, Privacy policies what year would this been produced bristled brush the.
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