Production: The birth of a bronze sculpture
A bronze sculpture always begins with a clay model that I have created. In my free works, the modelling begins directly in the studio. This creative process alone can take months. For commissioned work, the first step is always a briefing, during which the necessary photographs are also taken.
A lengthy process then follows before the clay figure becomes a bronze sculpture for eternity.
The preparations for this are extremely complex and require a great deal of technical expertise. The sculpture I create has to change shape several times. A negative is created from the positive, then another positive and then another negative before the bronze casting is created at the end.
Film: Production of a bronze sculpture
For a better understanding of the production of a bronze sculpture, here is a short film (2:14 min.) showing some of the stages of production:
Production: Bronze-Skulptur: SWR – Handwerkskunst
The movie shown in the SWR series “SWR-Handwerkskunst” demonstrates in much more detail all the necessary steps involved in the elaborate production process of a bronze figure.
The movie is in German language, but it is well worth watching. It shows how complex it is to produce a bronze sculpture, even without understanding the language. (26.54 min.)
The history of bronze sculpture
Bronze sculpture has a long and varied history spanning thousands of years. Bronze casting was invented in India around 5,000 years ago. Initially, mainly everyday objects and weapons were made from bronze before artists and sculptors used this technique to create sculptures. Bronze was and still is considered a particularly noble material for the production of sculptures and was used in many styles and eras. A typical feature of bronze sculptures, apart from their heavy weight, is their patina. This can vary greatly depending on the steps used in the finishing process.
Middle Ages and Renaissance
During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, bronze sculptures continued to be created, but mostly as small sculptures or reliefs. The Italian Renaissance brought about a rebirth of bronze sculpture. Famous artists here include Donatello and Michelangelo.
Modernism and the present
New styles and techniques developed in the modern era, such as Art Nouveau and abstraction. Today, bronze sculptures are created by artists of all styles and nationalities, from figurative representations to abstract forms.
Production today
Nowadays, like many fellow sculptors, I use bronze as a material because of its special properties. The “lost wax process” has proven itself as a manufacturing process for high-quality bronze sculptures, as it allows for the finest details and thus guarantees a very high quality of the final product. However, this type of production is very time-consuming and labor-intensive, as can be clearly seen in the two films available on the “Production” page. In addition to the artistic value of a sculpture, the many individual steps required to produce a bronze figure have a considerable influence on the price of the end product.
Final theses
After the multiple transformations of the design in clay from positive to negative, back to positive and again to negative shown in both films have been completed, the final work on the respective figures takes place. Depending on the size of a design, a figure may be composed of several parts. These individual parts must then be joined together, i.e. welded, ground and polished. Milling or chasing may complete this stage of the manufacturing process. Depending on the design, the surface of the sculpture is then treated with salts, fire or chemicals to create the desired “patina” or color. One of these finishes gives the surface and thus the entire sculpture its very own, individual character.
How you get a scupture
The start is always a clay model made by me. This is a creative process, that often takes weeks or even months. Apart from my free artistic works, I also model commissioned works, which are produced according to the wishes of my clients. Commissioned work starts with a briefing. If it is a bust, for example, which is to be a realistic likeness of the customer, necessary photographs are usually also taken. As soon as the clay figure, which as already mentioned is the starting point for the later bronze figure, has been inspected and approved by my client, it goes to the foundry and the elaborate production process in the foundry begins.
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