Beautiful Bronze - Bronze Sculpture in Ancient and Modern Times

Bronze, an easily molded, durable and visually appealing material, has been utilized by civilized man for more than 5,500 years. According to archaeological finds, though bronze was initially used in the making of weapons and household items, it was quickly discovered that the material made unparalleled art. Archaeological evidence shows that bronze first appeared in Iran, Iraq and Turkey around 3,500 BCE (before the current era), followed by India (3,300 BCE) and concurrently, China and Europe (about 2,100 BCE).

Bronze is an alloy of copper with another material, usually tin, though other materials, including phosphorous, aluminum or silicon, may also be used. Bronze has the unique quality of expanding slightly as it cools. This makes it ideal for pouring into molds, as it "grows" to fill in extremely delicate details within the mold, lending a realistic appearance.

Though most cultures have a history of creating bronze sculptures, it was the ancient Greeks who are credited with the first life-size bronze figures. At first beating the bronze into shape and welding pieces together, the Greeks later refined the bronze sculpture technique by creating a clay model, lining it with wax and then a second layer of clay. Nails were inserted to brace the model. The molten bronze was then poured in, which melted the wax and left a uniform bronze piece in the desired shape. The clay was then be chipped away to reveal a hollow, relatively lightweight statue. This process, called the lost-wax method, is still in use today, though a variety of refinements have been made.

For a solid bronze sculpture, wax is used for most of the internal portion of the model. Most artists will start with a production model in case the molten process fails and the process must be started over again. Modern bronze sculptors have taken the Greek idea of large-size art to new heights, with impressively-sized bronze sculptures. These are often created in pieces, transported to the final location and welded on the spot.

Once the desired shape is obtained and the outer layer chipped out, the bronze sculpture is polished. Some artists use a patina rubbed on the outside of the sculpture, which results in a variety of color and sheen level effects. Finished bronze can also be gilded, a process known as ormulu.

Famous bronze sculptors through history included Donatello, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, Giambologna (Giovanni da Bologna) and Benvenuto Cellini. Bronze sculptors of the modern era include Henry Moore, Leonard Wells Volk, Harry Webber, Bill Toma and John W. Mills.

Anita Satin Choudhary writes for Ivory and Art Gallery. Browse the gallery for unique collection of artifacts ranging from Bronze sculpture to mammoth Ivory Tusks

The Exquisite Art Of Crafting Faberge Eggs
The tradition of Faberge Eggs to commorate the tradition of Easter, which is continuing even today is a age old tradition which started with the Russian Tsar, during the festive season of Russian Orthodox Church. In 1884, the first Egg was handcrafted on the personal order of the Russian Czar for his beautiful wife, Czarina Maria as a surprise pres...

Rome Hotels Are Just Like Rome - Ancient, Not Old
Rome is an ancient city, not an old one. So are the hotels located in Rome city centre: ancient, historical, beautiful of that beauty that comes from winning the passing of time. Old is something that used to be beautiful, but its not anymore. Rome instead is still wondrous: more chaotic, more urban, probably more complicated, but just as breathtak...

Modern Chandeliers
In ancient times, a chandelier used to be a branched candleholder, in modern times it has turned into a branched electric light holder. Where in ancient times chandeliers were purely functional, in modern times they are mostly ornamental. Modern chandeliers are not the only source of light in the room where they are installed. They are the optional...

Rustic Chandeliers: A Buyer’s Guide
Rustic chandeliers are ideal for a lodge or a cabin, as they provide adequate lighting and lend a rustic look to the surroundings.If one would like a woodsy look, one could choose chandeliers designed with a pine, cedar, or chestnut finish. Rustic pine chandeliers are made of cast fiber and a timber slice finish, a metal base with wrought iron arma...

Wedding Anniversary Gifts - Easy And Affordable
Weddings are joyful occasions. It is a time when two people bond together in marriage to form a lasting relationship. Wedding anniversaries are yearly celebrations in remembrance of that special occasion.We celebrate wedding anniversaries in various ways. Renewal of wedding vows, candle light dinners and gift giving are just some of the ways we cel...

Pick A Unique Silver Judaica As Gift
Silver Judaica as the name suggests is crafted out of pure Sterling silver. All religious products, literature, painting or objects related to or associated with the Jewish religion is known as Judaica. With the global spread of the religion, it has become a very sought after commodity both as a religious object and collectors item. The value of a...

Mammoth Ivory - Beautiful Sculptures!
Woolly mammoths roamed the Earth eons ago and archaeological remains have dated them to be contemporaries of our ancestors. Huge tusks, woolly body hair and genetically linked to the current elephants. Early humans carved the precious ivory and teeth that were procured from animals existing at that time.There have been many cache of carved mammoth ...