How to Buy Bronze Sculptures

Since the ancient Greeks discovered the superior casting properties and malleability of bronze centuries ago, artists and art lovers around the world have been finding new ways to incorporate the metal into their collections. As stand-alone statement pieces or subtle additions to a grand design scheme, bronze sculptures are extremely versatile and can be found in a variety of local antique shops and at flea markets, as well as on online sources. Due to the wide availability of antique bronze sculptures, there are a few things buyers should consider before adding to their collections.

How to Choose a Bronze Sculpture

There are two broad categories to be mindful of before purchasing a bronze sculpture: style and authenticity. Because bronze has been used to create works for thousands of years, there are several hundreds of styles of sculptures to choose from, and not all may be right for certain collections. To ensure cohesiveness within their collections, buyers must consider style and tastes to narrow their search and make it easier to find the perfect piece.

Unfortunately, bronze art fraud is a rampant condition within the art collecting world. To the discerning collector looking for an investment piece, verifying the sculpture's authenticity is imperative before you decide to make a purchase. The authenticity of the sculpture will also impact pricing, so it is essential that you determine if originality in a piece is important to you before you begin your search.

Style

There are many factors to consider before you purchase a bronze sculpture, the largest of which is perhaps style. From bold Asian sculptural representations of mythical creatures to ornamental art deco figures to iconic depictions of the American West, there are a legion of styles and subjects to consider. Fortunately, many artists such as Constantin Brancusi and Frederic Remington produce versatile works that will work in almost any collection. Greco-Roman depictions of gods and goddesses also display versatility of style.

In addition to a variety of subjects, bronze can be cast in a variety of styles. Molten and bonding methods of casting lend different textures and weights to the sculptures. Often, bonded bronze uses a mixture of 93 percent bronze powder combined with seven percent resin, creating a lighter sculpture that's easier to repair if it should break. Because molten casting uses pure bronze, the statues are often heavier and more expensive and may be suited to different collections. The addition of a patina to a sculpture, employed by artists like D.H. Chiparus, adds an extra element of style that a buyer should also make note of before actually purchasing.

Authenticity

Because bronze stays liquid longer than copper and produces a better casting, it makes the reproduction of famous works extremely easy. This is why, when shopping for bronze pieces, it is important to verify the authenticity of the piece before you make a purchase. A lot of antique shops, as well as estate sales and flea markets, sell reproductions of original works. If buyers do not know what to look for, they can often end up paying an exorbitant price for an inauthentic piece.

A prospective buyer should look for the artist's signature on the sculpture, along with a hand-signed certificate of authenticity. If neither is available, the appraisal from a third, well-respected party may be necessary to verify the piece's originality. A buyer can also find a multitude of reproductions in flea markets and antique shops. eBay's wide variety of sellers makes it an excellent source of both original antique bronze sculptures and other reproductions.

Purchasing Bronze Sculptures On eBay

eBay's Antique Marketplace is an easy starting place for prospective buyers, where you can browse for sculptures that suit their criteria. To ensure their purchase comes from a reputable source, users can also visit eBay's Feedback Rating System, which allows them to view a seller's past transaction performance and subsequent ratings. Make note of the comments and the feedback given under each seller's profile.

Bronze sculptures come in a wide variety of styles and work with a variety of tastes and collections. Not only should a potential buyer be aware of the style and composition of a piece before making a purchase, the art's authenticity should also be called into question, particularly if you are purchasing the sculpture as an investment. Once all of these factors have been taken into consideration, buyers can begin their search for the perfect piece in local antique shops, at estate sales, and even on eBay.