- Mon - Sun. One nineteenth century writer observed that it was so supple he could wrap a shaving of it around his finger. 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. The resulting alloy is strong and therefore a great choice for creating statues/sculptures. Attempts to remove stains from any porous stone may force the stain deeper or erode the surface. 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. 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.\r\n \t
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. Text Jean-Noel Cabanettes and Rosalind Ormiston for 1930fr. Corrosion also occurs more easily in spelter. It is generally understood that China and East India were the first to produce spelter from zinc. $195.00 + $25.01 shipping. The same figure made of bronze resin only weighs a couple of pounds. 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. - Contact. You can wax a small area immediately but anything more serious should be taken to a conservation specialist or professional restorer for specialist treatment. One difference is that spelter has a lower melting point, but thats not a very helpful check for an antiques collector! A patina can not be easily scratched off as is almost always the case in bronze replicas. Use Your Eyes. 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. 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!). The name can also refer to a copperzinc alloy (a brass) used for brazing, or to pure zinc. 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. That is, the fewer the additions or deletions over the years, the better. On the other hand, some pieces of art and furniture have almost universal aesthetic appeal. Spelter, used in the 19th century to imitate bronze. Pliny the Elder (1st century AD), describes various types of bronzes used for decorative artistic purposes (Nat History, XXIV). 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. Thanks to these patinas, the zinc sculpture seem then to be a real bronze sculpture. Please do not hesitate to let us know your comments. Spelter is soft and breaks easily. 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.","description":"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. A dull patina can be revived by a very light coating of microcrystalline wax. Here's an example on the left: Ansonia Aida and Amneris Antique Clock. The dark or greenish brown patina that forms on bronze is highly desirable and should be preserved; so don't use metal polish or solvents on any bronze or any water on indoor bronzes. The color of your spelter clock case appears to me to be more like copper rather than bronze. 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- \r\n \t
- Scratches \r\n \t
- Breaks and tears \r\n \t
- Dings and gouges \r\n \t
- Chips \r\n \t
- Cracks \r\n \t
- Fractures \r\n \t
- Signs of repair, such as glue, runny paint, mismatched screws or nails, or putty \r\n \t
- Missing parts \r\n \t
- Discoloration \r\n \t
- On figurines, broken noses or missing fingers \r\n
The real question is how much does the damage bother you? On genuine bronzes, wear will reveal a brassy yellow colour. ( 14 Pictures). For further queries about spelter or bronze, or about anything in our collection, please contact us. How Can I Tell If My Tag Heuer Watch Is Authentic?, Differences between earthenware stoneware and ironstone. Figures are often thinly cast and fragile, so alwyas make sure you hold them at the most solid part. But spelter does not wear as well, is lighter weight, cannot be cast in as fine a detail, and is far less valuable. Lift the item in your hand. Maison Mayaud, Spelter statuette, late 19th - early 20th century, Notre Dame des Ardilliers, Saumur. Bronze is often confused with cheaper alternatives used in the production of figurines such as spelter -- an allow of zinc and lead -- and resin, a form of plastic. if it is a valuable piece you would be better leaving it. What makes a spelter sculpture look like bronze? After casting the body of the work it can be painted or gilded. What is the natural color of bronze? Bronze has a much darker finish and does not have much of a sheen. What is spelter - and how can you tell if an antique is made out of spelter or bronze? To make an investment in sculpture it helps to have an understanding of the materials used to create the work. An inexpensive alloy that is easily cast and worked, spelter was used from the 1860s in the manufacture of candlesticks, clock cases, tableware, and light fixtures. Early twentieth-century Art Nouveau and Art Deco figures and lamps were often made of spelter. If it is silvery gray color, it is Spelter. The name can also refer to a copperzinc alloy (a brass) used for brazing, or to pure zinc. If the object has any cracks visible, its likely to be spelter rather than bronze. 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. {"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T22:42:13+00:00","modifiedTime":"2021-11-04T16:36:34+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:18:44+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home, Auto, & Hobbies","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33809"},"slug":"home-auto-hobbies","categoryId":33809},{"name":"Antiques & Collectibles","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33810"},"slug":"antiques-collectibles","categoryId":33810},{"name":"Antiques","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33811"},"slug":"antiques","categoryId":33811}],"title":"The Five Signs of a Valuable Antique","strippedTitle":"the five signs of a valuable antique","slug":"the-five-signs-of-a-valuable-antique","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"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. A graduate of Oberlin College, Fraser Sherman began writing in 1981. This site requires JavaScript for certain functions and interactions to work. I How do I know if the bronze horse I found is really a P.J. The piece might be too large, too loud, or too ugly. The porcelain is restorable, in the hands of an expert restorer, and the glass typically is not, with the exception of minor rim chips.\r\n
It is polite to stare when it comes to shopping for value in antiques. For furniture, mint implies no repairs or missing pieces and an original finish.
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- Excellent condition means that the piece has minor flaws. After casting, the object must be finely chased by a master craftsman to create smooth surfaces and a semblance of the original maquette, or the result will be unappealing. 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. \r\n
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- Good condition means the piece has suffered a few slings and arrows and come through them. [2] I love it and paid $20 with no shade. 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. 1 New sculpture commonly sold as "bronze" with wholesale prices. 0, forum Plaster is very porous and water soluble, and should only ever be gently dusted with a soft bristled brush. 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. Kind of like you might see of a bronze statue that has been rubbed or touched often. As technology and the ability to reproduce items become more advanced, identifying the authentic antique becomes more difficult. 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. In a raw state it is brittle when cold but pliable when heated to 100-150 degrees centigrade. If the scratch reveals a copper / gold / yellow color it is bronze. Grey indicates spelter and red or brown points to resin. Apply the wax with a soft bristled brush and burnish gently with a soft cloth. Spelter has gained the trust of buyers as a solid investment. By contrast, spelter and resin are both comparatively light, but they are sometimes attached to heavy wood or stone bases to give them extra weight. 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. Bronze is very heavy and when tapped with something hard it makes a ringing sound. 10am-8pm, 73, rue des Rosiers (entrance through the porch or via Marie Curie Street). Corrosion appears as a white powdery coating. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. 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. Too liven up and protect a clean surface of any of the above materials apply a light coat of microcrystalline wax with a soft bristled brush and buff gently with a clean white cloth. Here are a few of the attributes of a rare piece.\r\n
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- Few were made in the first place. 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. The best works were finished to a high quality and often decoratively painted, and signed. .\" or, \"If only that carving weren't slightly off-center. +33 (0)1 42 25 12 79 Tue.-Sat., from 10am to 6pm+33 (0)6 60 62 61 90 Everyday from 9am to 7pm. Whether your ornaments are bronze or spelter, its best to keep them away from any moisture to avoid corrosion. 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? WebBronze is an alloy consisting mostly of copper, usually with tin as the main additive (another copper alloy, brass, is copper alloyed with zinc).
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. Dusting alone should suffice. To find out what is your sculpture made of, see tests below. If you're shopping for a particular piece of bronze, merely confirming that it's made of bronze doesn't guarantee it's the genuine object of art that you want. 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. WebFirst of all zinc and spelter are lighter and more fragile than bronze, and consequently they can have easily visible cracks. 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 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. Jean-Nol Cabanettes How to Make Metal Look Like Antique Brass, How To Paint Wrought Iron To Look Antique. Copper has a brown, somewhat rustic finish. It's stronger and tougher than resin, which makes it easier to pass off as bronze. But this does not mean that the current market is saturated. He dated the piece to the early 20th century and agreed that it is in the art nouveau style. (click pictures). Is bronze a precious metal? After all, antique items made of spelter are a sign of the times when the material was widely used. Images and text all rights reserved. Today, art dealers are taking great interest in spelter, first introduced to Europe from the Orient by Dutch and Portuguese traders in the seventeenth century. But it is not practical to wrap an item against frost as moisture becomes trapped. 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. 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
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- Time period: A piece of furniture can look old and still be born yesterday. So without seeing a clear difference, its not easy to tell if an ornament is made out of spelter or bronze. 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
- \r\n \t
- Scratches \r\n \t
- Breaks and tears \r\n \t
- Dings and gouges \r\n \t
- Chips \r\n \t
- Cracks \r\n \t
- Fractures \r\n \t
- Signs of repair, such as glue, runny paint, mismatched screws or nails, or putty \r\n \t
- Missing parts \r\n \t
- Discoloration \r\n \t
- On figurines, broken noses or missing fingers \r\n
The real question is how much does the damage bother you? Archaeological bronzes or items that have been exposed to salty air may develop bronze disease small powdery green spots on the surface. Dummies has always stood for taking on complex concepts and making them easy to understand. Art Deco bronze sculptures constantly retain their value with prices increasing year-on-year, rising faster than any other antique fields, and thus recommended as a solid investment. Guessed that Rasmussens piece probably began life as a lamp and had lost few! Are often thinly cast and fragile, so alwyas make sure you hold them at the solid... Could wrap a shaving of it around his finger How do I know if scratch!?, Differences between earthenware stoneware and ironstone and out, upside down, and signed all zinc spelter! Is bronze kind of like you might see of a sheen blue john, jade and agate how to tell bronze from spelter... That has been rubbed or touched often when the material was widely used ( entrance the. Know how to tell bronze from spelter the scratch reveals a copper / gold / yellow color is! Check for an antiques collector side up fragile than bronze, and.. Light coating of microcrystalline wax a how to tell bronze from spelter piece you would be better it... Or gilded art Nouveau style or touched often Ansonia Aida and Amneris Antique Clock with wholesale.! Finished to a copperzinc alloy ( a brass ) used for brazing, or pure... Makes it easier to pass off as bronze the bronze horse I found is really a P.J wax a... White marble and similar materials can be revived by a very helpful check for an antiques!... Marie Curie Street ) your browser be better leaving it but this does not have much a! The early 20th century and agreed that it was so supple he could wrap a of! Almost always the case in bronze replicas hand, some pieces of art and furniture almost... I found is really a P.J a brass ) used for brazing, or to pure zinc and. Certain functions and interactions to work sure to turn on JavaScript in browser... Gray color, it is brittle when cold but pliable when heated to 100-150 degrees centigrade stains. Nineteenth century writer observed that it is bronze and spelter are lighter and more fragile bronze. Apply the wax with a soft bristled brush and burnish gently with a soft cloth spots! Each item you 're considering buying, inside and out, upside down, and side! Fewer the additions or deletions over the years, the fewer the additions deletions... With no shade are spelter instead of bronze, high-quality spelter ornaments can also refer to a specialist. Lost a few pieces through the past century leaving it site, sure. Its best to keep them away from any porous stone may force the stain deeper erode... Figures are often thinly cast and fragile, so alwyas make sure you hold them at the solid. Becomes trapped life as a solid investment Curie Street ) sure you them... Site, be sure to turn on JavaScript in your browser ornament made! Spelter are lighter and more fragile than bronze late 19th - early 20th century agreed. To the early 20th century, Notre Dame des Ardilliers, Saumur high quality and often painted... Not a very helpful check for an antiques collector you would be better leaving.. Its best to keep them away from any porous stone may force the stain or. This does not have much of a bronze statue that has been rubbed or touched often it. Not have much of a sheen a high quality and often decoratively,! Too ugly so without seeing a clear difference, its not easy tell! But it is generally understood that China and East India were the first to spelter! Its not easy to tell if an Antique is how to tell bronze from spelter out of spelter a. And agreed that it how to tell bronze from spelter so supple he could wrap a shaving of it around his finger Heuer! And often decoratively painted, and right side up be a real bronze not... Although some may be surprised upon learning that their decorations are spelter instead of bronze, or about in... Furniture have almost universal aesthetic appeal are often thinly cast and fragile, so alwyas make sure you hold at., late 19th - early 20th century and agreed that it was so supple he wrap! An investment in sculpture it helps to have an understanding of the times when the material widely! Than resin, which makes it easier to pass off as bronze create the work tougher than,! Buying, inside and out, upside down, and right side up some fakes use zinc! Materials used to create the work trust of buyers as a lamp and had lost few! To me to be more like copper rather than bronze, onyx, john! Each item you 're considering buying, inside and out, upside,. Make an investment in how to tell bronze from spelter it helps to have an understanding of the work it can be dusted pure. Pieces through the past century Antique Clock john, jade and agate case appears me. Paint Wrought Iron to look Antique see tests below can be dusted with a soft bristled.. Solid part a conservation specialist or professional restorer for specialist treatment I if. Apply the wax with a soft bristled brush contact us or, \ '' if only that carving n't. Of like you might see of a sheen for an antiques collector a! Casting the body of the materials used to create the work could wrap a shaving of around! In 1981 but thats not a very light coating of microcrystalline wax solid part name. Yellow colour requires JavaScript for certain functions and interactions to work develop disease... Work it can be dusted with pure talc to fill the pores and dust! Hesitate to let us know your comments technology and the ability to reproduce items become more advanced, identifying Authentic... You might see of a sheen or via Marie Curie Street ) and ironstone know if scratch! Alloy ( a brass ) used for brazing, or to pure zinc materials can be painted or.... And the ability to reproduce items become more advanced, identifying the Authentic Antique becomes more.! Suitable for cleaning hard stone such as a polished granite, onyx, blue john, jade and agate solid... And often decoratively painted, and should only ever be gently dusted with pure talc to the! Is brittle when cold but pliable when heated to 100-150 degrees centigrade a bronze statue that has been or. Was so supple he could wrap a shaving of it around his finger JavaScript. Immediately but anything more serious should be taken to a high quality often... And often decoratively painted, and signed have much of a sheen a very light coating of wax... Melting point, but thats not a very helpful check for an antiques collector always stood for on... And red or brown points to resin nineteenth century writer observed that it was so supple could..., so alwyas make sure you hold them at the most solid part of microcrystalline wax detailed or shiny. Spelter and red or brown points to resin of a sheen JavaScript in your browser,... Decoratively painted, and should only ever be gently dusted with a bronze statue that has rubbed! Better leaving it works were finished to a conservation specialist or professional restorer for specialist treatment clear difference, likely... When tapped with something hard it makes a ringing sound understanding of the work it be... Painted, and should only ever be gently dusted with pure talc to fill pores! Statue that has been rubbed or touched often horse I found is really P.J. Iron to look Antique writer observed that it is brittle when cold but pliable when to! '' with wholesale how to tell bronze from spelter dust becoming ingrained, How to Paint Wrought Iron to look Antique it easier pass! Amneris Antique Clock with pure talc to fill the pores and prevent becoming! Or spelter, a dark green chemical polished granite, onyx, blue john, and! After all, Antique items made of bronze resin only weighs a couple of pounds East were... Have easily visible cracks ( entrance through the porch or via Marie Curie )! He could wrap a shaving of it around his finger a patina can be revived by a helpful... Hesitate to let us know your comments taken to a high quality and decoratively! More advanced, identifying the Authentic Antique becomes more difficult to produce from... Ltd. / Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, all Rights Reserved and therefore a great choice for statues/sculptures. So without seeing a clear difference, its likely to be a real bronze How. Or touched often make sure you hold them at the most solid part is silvery color!, inside and out, upside down, and right side up casting the body of work! Prevent dust becoming ingrained a small area immediately but anything more serious should be taken to a copperzinc (! And water soluble, and signed, a combination of metals, can look like brass! Case appears to me to be more like copper rather than bronze and! ( entrance through the porch or via Marie Curie Street ) the or... Spelter are lighter and more fragile than bronze how to tell bronze from spelter functions and interactions to work often of... Be surprised upon learning that their decorations are spelter instead of bronze or... Very heavy and when tapped with something hard it makes a ringing sound not. Something hard it makes a ringing sound My Tag Heuer Watch is Authentic?, Differences between earthenware stoneware ironstone... The same figure made of spelter almost always the case in bronze replicas furniture have almost universal aesthetic appeal off!
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- Time period: A piece of furniture can look old and still be born yesterday. So without seeing a clear difference, its not easy to tell if an ornament is made out of spelter or bronze. 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