We Buy Bronzes
Bronze is a very hard metal. It is an alloy mainly of copper, some tin, aluminium, manganese, nickel, zinc or lead. It is non-corrosive. The discovery of bronze meant that metal objects such as tools, weapons, armour, sculptures and coins and a host of other items could be hard-wearing and longer lasting. This period is referred to as the Bronze Age. Artefacts from around this time and even earlier are described as being made from copper alloys, due to the various compositions of metals, however the main ingredient continues to be copper. The metal is also malleable and can be easily shaped and cut by machinery. It is also used widely in jewellery making and some coinage today, as well as in some musical instruments and even engine parts. Bronze is cheaper than pure copper.
The metal alloy was popularly used for sculptures as it expands when poured into molds. As it cools it contracts and the outer casing can be removed easily.
The earliest artefacts date from around 4,000 BCE, and the use of Bronze alloys spread across Europe, reaching India and China. The Iron Age continued the use of Bronze, however as there was a scarcity it gave way to Iron once more. Iron was cheaper and improved methods of refining led to a higher quality.
By the Middle Ages the alloy mixes became more refined. Bronze was used more widely as a substitute for iron to fashion tools, weapons and armour. Bronze was also used in the manufacture of bells, using a higher than usual tin content. Bronze was also widely used in churches and in religious artefacts although these are often more commonly referred to as Brasses, which has a higher zinc content than copper. Highly polished Bronze pieces were used as mirrors before the discovery of glass.
Historical artefacts were typically made from Bronze and Brasses, the latter metal using different mixes of other components. Bronze alloys were also used to make building materials such as tiles.
The ancient Greeks used Bronze in shaping their statues and sculptures. Museums throughout the world hold displays of various items such as figurines, masks, bowls and other implements. The use of such items was a display of wealth, and burial sites have been discovered with quantities of Bronze items indicating the status of the individual.
In Britain tin deposits found in Cornwall enabled widespread trading across Europe. Large hoards of Bronze artefacts were discovered in Egypt, China, Afghanistan, Iraq, for example. Bronze items have been discovered in some African countries. Arsenic was a later addition to tin and Bronze but the toxic fumes made this a more dangerous process.
During the 17th and 18th centuries Bronze items were gilded and highly polished. In France clocks were made using Bronze for the casings. Clock makers produced very elaborate styles, however after the reign of Louis XV, a more refined style was favoured. Marble and alabaster were combined with Bronze. After the French Revolution large factories were set up to produce more cast Bronzes. Gilt was used for luxury items, being cheaper than gold and silver. Items such as Candlesticks, clock cases, and some furniture parts were fashioned from polished Bronze. Bronze figurines were popular as ornaments.
Do you have any items in your possession that you believe are made from Bronze? If you wish to part with items that are no longer used or that have become too heavy and elaborate for modern living we are looking to buy any such items. Please get in touch with us either by phone or by email with photographs for identification purposes, and we will be willing to assist. We can visit you in the comfort of your own home if this is more practical.
