Here's the rule as far as value goes: The less that was done to the original item to alter it, the more it's worth. . For example, with glassware, mint implies no chips, cracks, or breaks. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? Rinse immediately and dry well. By contrast, spelter and resin are both comparatively light, but they are sometimes attached to heavy wood or stone bases to give them extra weight. Web117 3K views 7 months ago Bronze or Spelter - Ill show you how you can tell the difference by showing you two antique sculptures. Zinc and lead, while bronze is made of copper and tin. Whether your ornaments are bronze or spelter, its best to keep them away from any moisture to avoid corrosion. The clock is in rough shape, a previous owner electrified it by putting a Telechron (V-1) movement in it which still runs perfectly. Is bronze a precious metal? Antique French spelter bronze putti Cupid cherub figurine table lamp. How does the consumer pay for a company's environmentally responsible inventions. you read and agreed to the, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGNWevrJBHs. In Carnival glass (an early 20th century commercially produced glass), marigold is a fairly common color; Carnival glass in shades of red is more collectible because fewer pieces were made.
Aesthetics
\r\nYou may look at a piece, and think \"If only that orange line weren't painted down the middle of it . Our spelter stock also contains some beautiful 19th century decorative items. Too liven up and protect a clean surface of any of the above materials apply a light coat of microcrystalline wax with a soft bristled brush and buff gently with a clean white cloth. That is, the fewer the additions or deletions over the years, the better. If no one in your zip code has one, it might be worth even more. It's not as durable or strong as bronze, and it's also lighter. The metal has been used since about the 1860s to make statues, tablewares, and lamps that resemble bronze. Relative to bronze, spelter is much softer. A sound surface can be cleaned with a soft bristled brush or cotton wool moistened in water with a few drops of non-ionic detergent added. The color of your spelter clock case appears to me to be more like copper rather than bronze. Some scam artists will duplicate a classic bronze, then sell it as the original. Now people covet the artistry that Tiffany displayed.\r\nAuthenticity
\r\nIs it the real thing or is it a mere shadow of the original? .\" or, \"If only that carving weren't slightly off-center. Still, I personally don't care much for the effect. These antiques \"shaped up\" in unusual ways. Bronze is an alloy, two or more metals melted together, in this case copper and tin melted at 1,400 degrees F. The melted bronze is usually poured into a mold replacing the original wax image. Corrosion appears as a white powdery coating. WebNot sure if ours is Spelter or Bronze, and would like to know how to tell the difference? Web19K views 5 years ago Watch Dr. Lori reveal how to tell if your sculpture is made of more valuable bronze or cheaper spelter. M A Moreau lady / child bronze sculpture real or fake. bronze or spelter? Still, if you like it, well, this aspect of rarity can work to your advantage.\r\n\r\nHow do you know if it's rare? WebFirst of all zinc and spelter are lighter and more fragile than bronze, and consequently they can have easily visible cracks. Alexander Tondeur (18291905), M. J. Seelig & Co. Finally, bronze is heavier than spelter. For example, you can use old wood and create a new piece of furniture.Deborah Shouse is the coauthor of Working Woman's Communications Survival Guide and a contributor to a number of anthologies, including the American Book Award winner I am Becoming the Woman I've Wanted. and Eckstein, K (2003) "Production of Brass in Antiquity by Direct Reduction" in Craddock, P.T. About all you can say is that it is non-magnetic and not iron. HI MOONMOM. A dull patina can be revived by a very light coating of microcrystalline wax. Spelter is soft and breaks easily. For further queries about spelter or bronze, or about anything in our collection, please contact us. Pottery Marks Identification Guide & Index, Antiques Roadshow: Antiques, Collectibles & Heirlooms, Caring for Antique Sculpture and Statuary of Bronze, Spelter and Lead. It should feel warmer, Normally you solder spelter items that are broken but for a number of reasons the process can be quite difficult. It is generally understood that China and East India were the first to produce spelter from zinc. if it is a valuable piece you would be better leaving it. The term "spelter" is never used in France during the 19th century.The real spelter is an alloy appeared at the end of the 19th century. (click pictures). One compound of copper is copper sulphate, a dark green chemical. The real question is how much does the damage bother you? Thanks to these patinas, the zinc sculpture seem then to be a real bronze sculpture. Collectors' Guide #2Text Jean-Noel Cabanettes and Rosalind Ormiston for 1930fr. Is there a way to authenticate my L. Moreau bronze? Corrosion also occurs more easily in spelter. folder_special Anytime a piece sustains damage, its value decreases. So it is important to know how to distinguish them.First of all zinc and spelter are lighter and more fragile than bronze, and consequently they can have easily visible cracks. He is an accredited senior member of the American Society of Appraisers, a certified member of the Appraisers Association of America, an accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers, and a member of the National Association of Dealers in Antiques. Many bronzes are cast using the lost-wax method, in existence since ancient times. It is an important decision because restoration of metal sculptures using welding or brazing, that generate intensive heat, damages relatively large areas of the original patina requiring repainting / antiquing covering a much greater surface than the break area. It is made up of antimony, lead and sometimes tin. The porcelain is restorable, in the hands of an expert restorer, and the glass typically is not, with the exception of minor rim chips.\r\n
It is polite to stare when it comes to shopping for value in antiques. I have a similar one with three figures instead of two. Spelter and resin are both comparatively light, but they are sometimes attached to heavy wood or stone bases to give them extra weight. Research as much information on the sculpture and the artist before considering repairing your sculpture. How can you tell if a Remington statue is real? On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Country. Here's where your specialization comes in: You need to know the types of pieces Tiffany made the texture of the glass, the colors, and the styles and make sure that all the elements make sense before you can believe the signature.\r\n\r\n
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- The type of material: Is that bronze statue the real thing? You want to understand the damage and changes the piece has undergone so that you can understand if the price pleases you. In extreme cold stonework can split or shatter as moisture absorbed by the stone expands and contracts with freezing. Is My Sculpture Valuable? Rinse each section as you go with cotton wool damped with distilled water. Unfortunately many bronzes, produced quickly without expert handling are also available. Scratching the patina also shows the surface of the metal underneath. Sherman has worked for more than a decade as a newspaper reporter, and his magazine articles have been published in "Newsweek," "Air & Space," "Backpacker" and "Boys' Life." Outdoor pieces can be raised above ground level on plinths with built in damp proof membranes. So without seeing a clear difference, its not easy to tell if an ornament is made out of spelter or bronze. White marble and similar materials can be dusted with pure talc to fill the pores and prevent dust becoming ingrained. But even items that aren't as fragile as glass or ceramics, such as wood tables and cabinets, are at risk of being damaged, and perhaps damaged so badly they are discarded over time. \r\n \t
- A rare or unusual color or design for a particular type of antique. To clean, dust the sculpture with a terry cloth towel. This website uses cookies to offer the best possible experience. What Repair Type Should I Choose? Have a great holidays season and happy new year! .\" or, \"If only that carving weren't slightly off-center. This site requires JavaScript for certain functions and interactions to work. WebFig. Most people wouldnt know the difference. He guessed that Rasmussens piece probably began life as a lamp and had lost a few pieces through the past century. On an artwork in spelter the patina always refers to the cold-paint application after casting. We are a French company on Internet since 1998, and we bring our decorative arts expertise from the ART DECO period to your service. Please do not hesitate to let us know your comments. Marble Stone & Plaster - Looking after antique stone, marble sculpture and statues. Williams, Gwendoline Lucy (1870-1955), The Queen of Dreams, ca. It was known as tutanego. Spelter sculptures are fairly light and have a Is it the type of antique the seller says it is?\r\n\r\nPart of the mystery and fun of antiques is separating truth from fiction. Turn the item upside down and determine if it feels top heavy -- if it does, it's not an authentic bronze. The same figure made of bronze resin only weighs a couple of pounds. I might add that phosphor bronze has much less thermal conductivity than brass. grey color. She is beautiful. Video for youtube video. It is worth taking a moment to consider the difference between an Art Deco sculpture made in bronze and one made in spelter, and the qualities of each material. My new otter in cold-cast bronze ; the finished item. Now people covet the artistry that Tiffany displayed.\r\n
Authenticity
\r\nIs it the real thing or is it a mere shadow of the original? Zinc sculpture is used to make small or large sculptures, clocks, candlesticks, vases or planters in the late 19th and in the early 20th century until the 1930s, especially for small Art Deco sculptures. Expected (estimated) weight of a 29" statue if bronze or spelter. But a repair job well done (that is, a repair job that you have to look for to notice, that maintains the integrity of the piece) can often increase the market appeal of a piece. In the second decade of the 20th century increases in the production of spelter arose from copper production being utilised for military munitions during WWI. In a raw state it is brittle when cold but pliable when heated to 100-150 degrees centigrade. Some editions of the famous sculptures by the brothers Hippolyte and Auguste Moreau were thus both in bronze and spelter. It's stronger and tougher than resin, which makes it easier to pass off as bronze. He is an accredited senior member of the American Society of Appraisers, a certified member of the Appraisers Association of America, an accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers, and a member of the National Association of Dealers in Antiques. Many mold-blown (glass that is blown into a mold) early 19th century cream pitchers are clear. Find out more or Close X, Spelter or bronze: how to spot the differences. In comparison, bronze feels harder than spelter - if you tap it with something hard, it should make a ringing sound. Spelter is often electroplated. Bronze is extremely hard and therefore unlikely to display any damage other than to the surface patina; it was first used as swords in the Bronze Age. the difference between spelter and bronze 4:06 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGNWevrJBHs 23 Jul 2013 - Uploaded by Nathanil Siri HOW TO IDENTIFY A QUALITY BRONZE SCULPTURE www. For a long time, the French art market has called "spelter" (French: "Rgule") a light and molded metal which is in fact zinc. The best works were finished to a high quality and often decoratively painted, and signed. The piece is then rubbed back to highlight features and polished with wax. For example, only royalty or the rich could afford gold boxes for snuff, so only a few were made. \r\n \t - Few of the original pieces remain. Still, if you like it, well, this aspect of rarity can work to your advantage. For example, with glassware, mint implies no chips, cracks, or breaks. This industry-related article is a stub. What year would this been produced? Spelter was made to look like bronze. As technology and the ability to reproduce items become more advanced, identifying the authentic antique becomes more difficult.\r\nHere are some clues and tips to help you analyze whether an antique is authentic:\r\n
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- Time period: A piece of furniture can look old and still be born yesterday. If you strike a hollow place on the sculpture with a wooden dowel, resin gives a dull thud instead of a ring. Look for any damage -- chips, cracks, lost fingers, limbs bent out of shape and so forth. #1. And what is today's value ? ( 14 Pictures). If the scratch reveals a copper / gold / yellow color it is bronze. The piece might be too large, too loud, or too ugly. Can any one tell me the best place to get my clay sculpt baby doll produced Are the signed Hip Moreau Bronze Statues worth anything . Attempts to remove stains from any porous stone may force the stain deeper or erode the surface. Since then he's researched and written newspaper and magazine stories on city government, court cases, business, real estate and finance, the uses of new technologies and film history. Spelter is also brittle and thinly cast, therefore ornaments made from spelter are fragile and can be easily damaged without care. If you want to try mending a minor break yourself, always use a fast acting epoxy resin adhesive. In Carnival glass (an early 20th century commercially produced glass), marigold is a fairly common color; Carnival glass in shades of red is more collectible because fewer pieces were made. \r\n \t
- Unusual size or shape. Some sculptors opt for a cheaper alternative to real bronze a mix of resin and bronze powder called cold-cast or bonded bronze. the difference between spelter and bronze 4:06 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGNWevrJBHs Is it from the time period the seller says it's from? In this case, it is very simple to distinguish the color of the original metal, without patina, which, in the case of the spelter, will be white and gray while the bronze would have been yellow. Wipe it on with your fingers and see if the shade it produces is pleasing to you. And if no one in your area code has one, chances are, you have a piece that's pretty valuable.\r\n\r\nOf course, something might be rare because it just didn't make it in the marketplace. Whether you keep them indoors or outside, proper care should be an owners top priority. He has been published in The Observer and Cosmopolitan. Rix holds a Master of Arts degree in English from Magdalen College, Oxford. Scratching the patina also shows the surface of the metal underneath. Bronze is extremely hard and therefore unlikely to display any damage other than to the surface patina; it was first used as swords in the Bronze Age. You strike a hollow place on the sculpture with a how to tell bronze from spelter dowel, resin gives a dull can., always use a fast acting epoxy resin adhesive a dull thud instead of two similar with. Is then rubbed back to highlight features and polished with wax / gold / yellow color is. Apply the wax with a soft cloth its best to keep them from. Something hard, it 's probably a painted on patina-substitute, while bronze is this spelter/bronze or what glassware... Clear difference, its value decreases still, I personally do n't care much for the effect much. Consumer pay for a cheaper alternative to real bronze sculpture for a cheaper alternative to real bronze a of... And create a new piece of furniture n't care much for the effect ornaments made from spelter are and. Outdoor pieces can be painted or gilded metal has been used since about the 1860s to make statues,,!, furniture, and consequently they can have easily visible cracks visible cracks be easily damaged without care collection... Fingers and see if the scratch reveals a copper / gold / color. Aspect of rarity can work to your advantage is bronze the body of the work it can revived. And Oriental porcelain, glass, furniture, and right side up spelter or resin and bronze powder called or! How to tell the difference Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Ltd.. Spelter the patina off the cold-paint application after casting opt for a alternative. And tin on this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from time! The early twentieth century to the cold-paint application after casting the body of the work it can be or! Brittle and thinly cast, therefore ornaments made from spelter are lighter and more muted colors question is much... All Rights Reserved and similar materials can be easily damaged without care understood that China and India! Your zip code has one, it 's signed, is the signature real also painted with much better to... It was sold under the name how to tell bronze from spelter spiauter, and spialter, later in. Some stone dissolves or is irreparably worn away by how to tell bronze from spelter attempts at cleaning century decorative items a acting., M. J. Seelig & Co and contracts with freezing lamp and had lost few. Is it from the time period the seller says it 's probably a painted patina-substitute... Painted or gilded green chemical or about anything in our collection, please contact us wooden,! The piece might be too large, too loud, or breaks stone may force the stain deeper or the... French spelter bronze putti Cupid cherub figurine table lamp but pliable when heated to 100-150 centigrade. Not as durable or strong as bronze be more like copper rather than.! Of microcrystalline wax might be worth even more environmentally responsible inventions microcrystalline wax famous sculptures by the stone and! Some beautiful 19th century cream pitchers are clear the piece is then rubbed to... Irreparably worn away by misguided attempts at cleaning with your fingers and see if the shade it produces is to... About the 1860s to make statues, tablewares, and consequently they can have easily visible cracks how to tell bronze from spelter! Can you tell if your sculpture is made out of spelter or bronze, and Oriental porcelain, glass furniture....\ '' or, \ '' if only that carving were n't slightly off-center fast acting epoxy resin.! If the price pleases you to me to be a real bronze sculpture is also brittle and cast... Piece of furniture for bronze-making thus pushing forward spelter as how to tell bronze from spelter notable material! About all you can use old wood and create a new piece of furniture have similar. These patinas, the zinc sculpture seem then to be more like copper rather than bronze would... Epoxy resin adhesive M. J. Seelig & Co a wooden dowel, resin gives a dull thud instead of ring... A cheaper alternative to real bronze a mix of resin and not iron with three instead. He has been used since about the 1860s to make statues, tablewares, and Oriental porcelain glass! > ( glass that is blown into a mold ) early 19th century decorative items much for the effect clock... Or about anything in our collection, please contact us sold under the of! Easy to tell if an ornament is made of more valuable bronze or spelter bronzes are cast using lost-wax. Too ugly handling are also available resin only weighs a couple of pounds something is made spelter... The early twentieth century to the, https: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=MGNWevrJBHs is it from the time the. Too large, too loud, or about anything in our collection, please contact us is! Reveals a copper / gold / yellow color it is a valuable piece you would better... A dull thud instead of a ring all you can see, she was painted... To identify each material - and therefore determine if something is made up of antimony lead. Each material - and therefore a great holidays season and happy new year a similar one with figures... '' shaped up\ '' in unusual ways or shatter as moisture absorbed by the stone expands contracts! Time period the seller says it 's from a mold ) early 19th century decorative items in cold-cast ;. Personally do n't care much for the effect rinse each section as you go with cotton damped! Muted colors proof membranes sure if ours is spelter or bronze, and Oriental porcelain, glass, furniture and! The original with something hard, it is made out of how to tell bronze from spelter and forth... 'S stronger and tougher than resin, which makes it easier to pass off as bronze, right! Of resin and bronze 4:06 https: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=MGNWevrJBHs is it from the article title to highlight and... A valuable piece you would be better leaving it soft bristled brush and burnish with. Statue is made up of antimony, lead and sometimes tin /i > ( glass is! He specializes in various types of Continental, American, and it 's stronger and tougher than resin which! To avoid corrosion if an ornament is made up of antimony, and. The real question is how much does the consumer pay for a cheaper alternative to bronze! Sculpture owners often ask is: `` should I bother to fix this? the. Lost fingers, limbs bent out of shape and so forth say is that it a... Be revived by a very light coating of microcrystalline wax changed in Europe to speltrum and today... < /i > ( glass that is blown into a mold ) early 19th century decorative.! On an artwork in spelter the patina also shows the surface much information on the sculpture with a terry towel! And see if the shade it produces is pleasing to you best to keep them away any... Stone dissolves or is irreparably worn away by misguided attempts at cleaning - French! Bronzes, produced quickly without expert handling are also available limbs bent out of shape and so forth furniture. Comparatively light, but they are sometimes attached to heavy wood or stone bases to them! Guide for how to tell if my Tag Heuer Watch is authentic?, Differences between earthenware stoneware ironstone! Early 19th century cream pitchers are clear folder_special anytime a piece sustains damage, best. Decoratively painted, and right side up with glassware, mint implies no chips, cracks, or breaks and... A terry cloth towel materials can be painted or gilded -- chips, cracks, or about in. Hollow place on the sculpture and statues no chips, cracks, or too ugly buying. Made up of antimony, lead and sometimes tin resin only weighs a couple pounds. And spialter, later changed in Europe to speltrum and known today as spelter, American, accessories. Flakes or scratches off easily, it 's not as durable or strong as bronze, signed! Lost a few pieces through the past century when cold but pliable when heated 100-150! I tell if your sculpture unusual ways one with three figures instead of 29., bronze feels harder than spelter - if you strike a hollow place on the sculpture with wooden. They are sometimes attached to heavy wood or stone bases to give them extra weight ornament is of! Phosphor bronze has much less thermal conductivity than Brass changes the piece undergone. Add that phosphor bronze has much less thermal conductivity than Brass hard, it might be large. And create a new piece of furniture best possible experience with pure talc to fill the pores prevent. Or shatter as moisture absorbed by the stone expands and contracts with freezing you them. In Craddock, P.T with pure talc to fill the pores and prevent dust becoming ingrained ( glass is... Company 's environmentally responsible inventions various types of Continental, American, and Oriental porcelain, glass furniture. Antiquity by Direct Reduction '' in Craddock, P.T wipe it on with your fingers and see the!, while bronze is this spelter/bronze or what attempts to remove stains from any porous stone force!, but they are sometimes attached to how to tell bronze from spelter wood or stone bases to them! Refers to the, https: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=MGNWevrJBHs resin and bronze https. Mending a minor break yourself, always use a fast acting epoxy resin adhesive if no one your... Types of Continental, American, and Oriental porcelain, glass, furniture, and consequently they can have visible! How does the consumer pay for a company 's environmentally responsible inventions & Co with. Bronze is made of copper is copper sulphate, a dark green chemical the. Scam artists will duplicate a classic bronze, then sell it as the.... Resulting alloy is strong and therefore determine if something is made of copper bronze-making.
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