| Making articles and figures from the bronze is one | | | | numbers in the nineteenth century. A number of |
| of the most difficult things. There are many | | | | good bronzes were made in England in the |
| process involved to make articles and figures | | | | eighteenth century, but little is known yet about |
| from the bronze. Among the nations famous for | | | | them. |
| their bronze making skills are Italy, France and | | | | Chinese and Japanese bronzes of great age and |
| Germany. And a number of good bronzes were | | | | great size have been made for many hundreds of |
| made in England in the eighteenth century, but | | | | years. In addition to figures there are some |
| little is known yet about them. | | | | fifteenth-century bells at Pekin weighing about |
| Bronze | | | | fifty-five tons each and standing fourteen feet |
| Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. Its use in | | | | high. Chinese bronze altar-vessels of the |
| prehistoric days is outside the scope of this book | | | | Shang-Yin (1766-1122 B.C.) and Chou dynasties |
| and the most important examples that will | | | | (1122-249 B.C.) are particularly fine and rare. Most |
| concern readers are those made in Italy and | | | | have been buried for many centuries, and contact |
| elsewhere from the sixteenth century and | | | | with earth has resulted in corrosion of the |
| onwards. | | | | surface. Inevitably, these bronzes have been |
| The making of bronze articles and figures calls for | | | | copied at later dates, but the true patina (ageing |
| great skill. Most were made by the 'cire-perdue' | | | | of the surface) presents a very difficult problem |
| (lost wax) process, which can be described briefly | | | | to the faker and it is one that is seldom solved |
| as follows: the piece is modeled thinly in wax on a | | | | with success. |
| core of dry clay; the finished wax is then covered | | | | Mention must be made of the very many fine |
| in a coat of clay. Holes are left so that molten | | | | bronze figures made in India and Siam (Thailand) in |
| metal can be poured in to take the place of the | | | | the sixteenth century A.D. and earlier. Some of |
| wax, which is melted and runs out. | | | | the latter are gilt, and most are remarkably |
| The outer clay coating is broken off, the inner | | | | beautiful. The finer examples remain in the East or |
| core chipped away, and the article finished by | | | | are in Western museums, but a few appear on |
| hand to remove any roughness or imperfections. | | | | the market from time to time. Reasonably good |
| Thus, it can be seen that each single bronze has | | | | examples can sometimes be bought quite cheaply. |
| to be modeled individually and with care, and that | | | | In West Africa, the skilful bronze and brass |
| each version of the same original is slightly | | | | workers of the kingdom of Benin perhaps learned |
| different from the others. All old bronzes were | | | | their craft from the Portuguese, with whom they |
| made by this method, which is still in use. The | | | | had traded from the late fifteenth century. Their |
| making of bronzes by means of a number of | | | | work is highly individual and much is very beautiful, |
| removable and re-usable small moulds, each of | | | | but it is scarce and good specimens are obtainable |
| which leaves ridges on the article where it is | | | | only rarely. Examples were brought to Europe by |
| joined, came into use in the nineteenth century. | | | | a British punitive expedition, which captured Benin |
| Traces of these ridges usually remain visible and | | | | city in 1897, and there are fine collections from |
| their presence is taken generally as a certain sign | | | | this source at the British Museum, the Pitt-Rivers |
| of modern manufacture. | | | | Museum, Farnham, Dorset, the Museum of |
| Among Italian modelers may be mentioned: | | | | Primitive Art, New York, and in the possession of |
| Donatello, Andrea Briosco (called Riccio), Jacopo | | | | the Government of Nigeria. |
| Tatti (called Sansovino) and the Flemish-born | | | | Not only the Europeans but the Asian nations like |
| Giovanni di Bologna. German makers include the | | | | Japan, China, India and Thailand also made good |
| Vischer family, and the French sculptors Falconet | | | | quality of bronze figures and articles. Some of |
| and Clodion often had their work cast in bronze. | | | | them can still be found in some famous museums |
| The Frenchman Guillaume Coustou modeled the | | | | of the world. These countries usually made bronze |
| figures of rearing horses, known as the Marly | | | | idols, alter-vessels, and other figures and articles |
| Horses, about 1745. They were made in bronze, | | | | for both domestic use and for export. |
| and in metals imitating bronze, in very large | | | | |