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The Care & Maintenance of Bronze : Recommendations and helpful tips to keep your keep your bronze sculptures and statues in tip-top condition
Patination is the enhancement of bronze by the application of chemicals to produce different colour finishes. The acids and chemicals used in our workshops are a closely guarded secret as they produce some of the finest and most spectacular finishes to be seen on bronze today
Therefore we recommend that harsh/corrosive chemicals are kept well away from all patinated bronze products as there is a very real danger that these can cause serious colour changes that could be difficult to rectify to restore them to their original colours
Bronze may darken, turn green or even show streaks of yellow / white over time, depending on the climatic environment. Although many people like the look of aged bronze, you may wish to keep your statue as near to its original look as possible
Occasionally, small deposits of white ceramic may ‘bleed’ out of the bronze, this is natural and will stop in time. These deposits are easily cleaned away by following the tips below
Once clean, allow to air dry then apply a coat or two of wax polish with a boot brush. When using cleaning agents, always be aware of adverse effects on plants and aquatic life
Indoors : Bronze ages slowly and only needs an occasional dusting with a soft cloth or brush and an occasional application of wax polish
Outdoors : For water features and statues kept outside, more attention will be required, depending on the situation
Any debris or ceramic deposits caught in the more complex areas of your sculpture can be teased out with a soft lead pencil then cleaned off with a brush and soapy water
*NEVER* use strong chemicals, solvents or abrasives, as this will certainly affect the finish
If left without any protection bronze, like most metals, will oxidise with time, therefore we recommend that the surface is protected with wax
Although furniture wax produces good results, our preference is Kiwi shoe polish, dark brown for the darker patination (not tan as this can create a red hue) and clear for the green / blue colours. Apply the wax generously, working it into features and folds
Water features may benefit from a second application and more frequent attention, especially in hard-water conditions. When dry, buff thoroughly with a brush or cloth
Tip : Warm the wax for ease of application and apply with a paint brush
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