Bronze is a metal alloy which primarily consists of copper, usually with tin as the main additive, but sometimes with other elements such as phosphorus, manganese, aluminium, or silicon. It is hard and brittle and has been used as an artist’s medium since Antiquity.  It in fact was so significant in human history that we named an era after it: the Bronze Age. The word Bronze is believed to be related to the Italian: bronzo and the German: brunst, perhaps ultimately taken from the Persian word birinj ("bronze") or possibly from the Latin name of the city of Brindisi. The discovery of bronze made it possible for people to create better metal objects than was previously possible. Tools, weapons, armor, sculpture, jewellery and various building materials, like decorative tiles, made of bronze were harder and more durable than their stone and copper predecessors. Initially bronze was made out of copper and arsenic to form arsenic bronze. It was only later that tin was used to replace it since arsenic was toxic. Tin bronze was superior over arsenic bronze in that the fusing process itself could more easily be controlled (as tin was available as a metal) and the alloy was stronger and easier to cast.

 

 

Bronze is the most popular metal for cast metal sculptures; a cast bronze sculpture is often called simply a "bronze". The Greeks were the first to scale the figures up to life size but not many of these works have survived. Making bronzes is highly skilled work and it requires the artist to be a cognisant of all the best techniques to be employed to get the result that he wants. Artists working with bronze are required to be very attentive to details, meticulous as well as patient. It takes many stages to obtain a bronze masterpiece. To give but one example of the techniques, to make a large sculpture, the artist will usually prepare small study models until the pose and proportions are determined and the artist is satisfied. An intermediate-sized model is then designed with all of the final details. For very large works, this intermediate process may be repeated many more times.

 

From the final model, measurements are taken to determine the dimensions of an armature for the structural support of a full-size piece (this piece will only be temporary), which is made from wood, cardboard, plastic foam, and/or paper to approximately fill the volume while keeping the weight at a minimum. Finally, plaster, clay or other material is used to form the full-size model, which can be used to make a mould. Before modern welding techniques, large sculptures tended to be cast in one piece with a single pour. Welding allows a large sculpture to be cast in pieces, then assembled. It requires a true artisitc genius to be able to control all the aspects of this process and allow art to emerge out of science.

 

 

Brett Davis is such a genius. He works in all facets of non-ferrous metals from welding, fabrication, chasing and fountain design. He has studied and created specialized patina formulas for many Canadian and international artists and also teaches chemical patination and conducts workshops at local art colleges. His art is renowned all over the world and his pieces commissioned in many places.

 

If you would like to learn more about Brett Davis and his works visit him on his main website at www.ageofbronze.ca