Bronze Care

the Finish or Patina

The colouration or patina of bronze castings tends to darken with age. This is because most bronze used today is composed of 95% copper. Copper starts to "discolour" quickly due to reaction with airborne elements. All bronze darkens with age; however waxing may slow the process of oxidation.

With proper care your sculpture will maintain the beauty of its patinated surface.

Basic Care

Usually the only basic maintenance required is a good dusting with a clean, dry cotton cloth, to remove dust and fingerprints. Never use spray or liquid polishes to clean or dust a bronze sculpture. These products may contain oils or chemicals which could damage the original patina finish.

Most bronze sculptures, today, have been sealed with a synthetic lacquer finish and/or a coat of wax giving a shiny finish.

Climate

In regions with higher humidity, or where there are higher concentrations of airborne pollutants, cleaning and re-waxing with a super thin coat of Trewax^® brand paste wax may be needed twice a year.

In relatively dry climates, low in pollutants, a super thin coat of Trewax^® brand paste wax should be applied once a year, or even every other year is recommended.

Applying Wax

To best apply the wax, you will need two NEW soft paint brushes (1 or 2 in. / 2.5 or 5 cm) that are dedicated only for the cleaning of your bronze. Do not use brushes that have been used for other purposes; chemicals in the bristles may transfer to the patina causing permanent discolouration.

• Place a protective cover of tape over the metal ferrules that hold the bristles in the brush. This will prevent scratching of the sculpture surface when applying the wax or dusting.
• Wipe the bronze with a soft cloth to remove dust and fingerprints. Use one of the brushes to remove dust from small crevices or hard to reach places.
• When applying the wax to the second brush, use several back and forth "painting" strokes. Do not dab your brush in the wax; this could cause excess wax to be applied which could harm the finish of the sculpture. Wipe the brush on the edge of the can or the lid to remove any excess wax.
• Lightly apply a super thin coat of wax to the surface of the bronze using gentle sweeping motions.
• Re-apply wax to the brush, as above, covering the whole sculpture. Be sure to work it gently into all crevices. Cover the entire surface of the sculpture with wax and let it dry according to the directions on the container.
• Using a clean, dry, cotton cloth, in a circular motion, gently rub the dried wax from the surface of the sculpture until you achieve the desired shine. For a better protective coating you may want to re-apply a second coat using the same technique.
        CAUTION ... using too much wax may remove previous layers of wax.
        Do not use too much wax or work it into the surface too vigorously.
• For future use, keep the brushes in separate labelled bags, where they are free from other contaminants.

NOTE ... Antique Bronze Finishes

The patina of most older bronze sculptures has already darkened over time. Since the patina has stabilized it is not necessary to re-wax these as often. Re-waxing may change the antique beauty. Their value may also be affected.

Print This Page