Bronze statues have served as historical markers for the interests, triumphs, and passions of mankind throughout history.
At Maya Gallery, we uphold this illustrious metallurgical tradition by collaborating with our represented artists to create works of art from this modest but exquisite alloy that will last for several generations.
The History of Bronze Sculpture
Since the invention of the alloy for weapons and tools, the great civilizations of the ancient world have used bronze for their artistic creations.
Perhaps the earliest known bronze sculpture is the Dancing Girl from Mohenjo-daro, which dates to around 2500 BCE and is a product of the Harappan culture. The first civilization to enlarge the figurines to life size was the Greeks.
There aren’t many in good shape, but one such bronze statue is the Victorious Youth sculpture that was painstakingly restored to its current form for display in a museum as a historical artifact. Roman bronze statues have remained in much greater numbers.
The Shang dynasty saw the creation of numerous Chinese ceremonial bronze statues—ritual vessels with intricately decorated exteriors—by the ancient Chinese, who were skilled in both lost-wax casting and section mold casting.
These bronze works were entombed in sets of as many as 200 pieces in the tombs of monarchs and nobles. Small lost-wax bronze figures were produced in considerable quantities over the lengthy Egyptian dynastic art period and thousands of them have been preserved as part of museum collections.
An impressive example of Sri Lankan bronze statues is the Buddhist Tara statue, which is a Sinhalese creation from the 7th or 8th century and is presently on display in the British Museum.
Moreover, the Chola dynasty in South India marked the apex of bronze production in India from the 9th to the 12th centuries.
Our Bronze Statues
The bronze sculptures we produce provide amazing, lifelike features and lasting impressions to private homes, companies, academic institutions, libraries, public spaces, and more.
Our artists endeavor to expertly combine textured surfaces for notable bronze statue finishes that only get more amazing with age. Quality bronze is a versatile and hardy material that can — and does — survive the rigors of exhibition both indoors and out.
You can browse our online catalog to
The Benefits of Including Bronze Garden Statues As Part of Your Exterior Home Decor
You should expect your bronze sculptures and garden figurines to age gracefully because the lustrous natural color of bronze develops beautifully and becomes more appealing and intricate as it is subjected to variations in heat, light, and moisture that it will encounter when exposed to the elements outside.
This quality also makes them a unique feature in a garden or field for a passing motorist to see or a bronze sculpture of your team mascot that will draw visitors for years to come. Adding bronze fountains to your garden can be a fantastic way to add timeless class.
Why Do Artists Choose to Make Bronze Statues?
Artists favor bronze over other mediums, such as marble, for a number of reasons.
It Is Strong and Ductile
Bronze is a fantastic material for sculpting, according to artists and sculptors. It is a strong and ductile metal, in contrast to marble, which may be challenging to work with and can break more easily.
Detail and easy Casting
Additionally, bronze is preferred over other alloys because it can be cast with both uniformity and intricacy.
The small expansion that occurs as molten bronze hardens in a cast enables every detail of the mold to be preserved. As it continues to cool, it will once more compress, making it possible to remove the mold quickly.
This final characteristic of bronze may indicate that some molds can be reused, which, unlike stone sculptures, allows for easy duplication of bronze statues.
Rich Color
Moreover, bronze is favored by artists and art collectors alike for its deep hue. Many bronze scultures acquire the intensity for which they are so frequently praised due to the characteristic burnish, that it acquires over time.
In addition to being patinated, bronze statues are also easily silvered and gilded to produce gilt bronze, providing it a remarkable range of applications. Some examples include furniture, clocks, jewelry, and more.
How to Tell Whether Your Bronze Garden Statues Are Authentic
Nature’s rich components are used to make bronze. However, occasionally people opt for the immoral route by exchanging different alloys, such as brass for bronze because the latter may be produced more cheaply.
It is sad that fraudulent bronze statues are being sold to art fans a nd by the time they assess the situation, it’s too late.
History clearly shows that there have been many cases of deception whenever there has been art involved. This includes wall hangings or paintings, and even today, many are duped into purchasing false contemporary art.
At Maya Gallery, we check the authenticity of bronze statues to ensure that our clients only get the best, but if you want to check that you have invested in quality bronze garden statues, here are are a few things you can look out for:
1. The Appearance
Looks can be deceiving, so the saying goes. However, they also claim that professionals can tell phony from real bronze garden statues just by looking at them. Interestingly enough, a bronze statue’s appearance might reveal a lot, even if there has been manipulation.
Patina, a glossy coating that provides bronze statues a bright appearance and prevents the metal from oxidizing, is a characteristic of bronze sculptures. Nearly all bronze statues have a patina coating, however occasionally, people will offer you imitation bronze statues with patina on the exterior.
To tell whether bronze sculptures are genuine, it is important to look at them in person and not judge them based on a picture you see online.
Scratching the patina will reveal the color of the metal. Genuine bronze has a reddish-gold hue. However, as the alloy’s elemental composition varies, colors range from yellow to onyx. You should be concerned if the color is overly blackish or matte. Moreover, if the statue appears too shiny, it is likely a fake bronze product.
2. How Does It Sound?
Have you ever thought about how various metals sound? Bronze also has a distinctive sound. A quick test can be used to determine whether your bronze garden statues are indeed made of bronze.
Simply strike the metal piece with something that could be utilized for that purpose, then listen to the sound that is produced. If the metal is bronze, there should be a brief ringing or small chiming sound that follows the striking.
You can be certain that the material is not metal at all if the sound is flat and dull. Resin and other imitation bronze materials will sound heavy and drab.
