PRODUCT

High Quality Bronze Reproduction “Borghese Gladiator” Black Marble Base w/ Velvet Bottom This beautiful and powerful sculpture is approximately 11″ tall, weighs approximately 12 pounds.   The quality is Exceptional.   The antique patina is expertly applied using great heat.    This rare piece is very graceful and a pleasure to view. The Original was marble found at Nettuno near Anzio in 1611. By 1613 it was in the Borghese collection.  It was purchased in 1807 by Napoleon. The Borghese gladiator bears the signature of the little-known sculptor Agasias of Ephesus on the trunk of the tree which supports the figure.  Re-discovered in the Borghese collection in Rome, the warrior plunges forward, the body straining and stretching, to parry a blow, probably from above, a shield (now missing) on his left arm, a sword (now missing) in his right hand.  Viewed from the side the long almost too straight diagonal thrust and the arrangement of torso and limbs seem confined to a one-dimensional frame, but the two dimensional aspects of the left arm, which leaves the body at a sharp angle, and the right arm pulling the torso in a strong twist, are evident from a frontal view.  The muscles and tendons, too abundant and well defined, recall the late Hellenistic device of exaggeration of the muscular structure of the male figure.

 
 

The “Lost Wax” Process

 What gives Bronze value beyond that of a “souvenir” that ends up in a closet? There are many reasons including cost of materials (bronze, silicone for molds, tools, ovens, etc.) The main reason is there are very few people trained in the tedious process practiced by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Bronze sculpture is not easy to make and many time consuming, difficult steps are involved. In a world of hi-tech mass production, bronze casting remains essentially unchanged. Beware of “cold cast” or “bonded bronze”, these are misleading names given to plastic figurines.  Each of our genuine bronze castings is in reality an “original” and the following explains why. These are the basic steps involved in creating a bronze Sculpture using the classic “cire perdue” (lost wax) process:

·  artist’s original model

·  silicone mold of the model

·  create lost wax mold

·  bronze casting

·  clean mold from casting

·  grind, rasp and file bronze

·  assemble pieces by welding

·  file and finish assembled piece

·  polishing

·  application of patina

   All bronze pieces are cast from a wax model regardless of the original material the model was sculpted. A silicone mold is made from the artist’s finished piece, and a hollow wax cast is drawn from this mold. The wax is then repaired, re-worked and finished to the sculptor’s specifications. Prior to creating a ceramic shell (explained below), vents are attached within the wax model. These vents are necessary in difficult areas where gas may accumulate such as hips, limbs, and neck. The vents allow the gas to escape when the molten bronze is poured and will prevent air pockets from forming and exploding the ceramic shell. The ceramic shell is one of the few materials the can withstand the heat of the molten

   When the wax cast is hardened and the vents are in place a ceramic shell is formed over the wax. This shell is made by dipping the wax into a slurry, coating it with sand, drying and repeating the process up to 14 times. A core consisting of plaster, ground brick and water is poured into the interior of the wax mold. After the ceramic shell and core have set, the mold is fired in an oven, the wax is melted and the ceramic shell is left intact. This process is known in French as “cire perdue” (lost wax). Molten bronze is now poured into the cavity left by the melted wax. When the bronze is cooled, the shell is chipped away using a hammer and chisel.

   The bronze must now be repaired and finished. This step is called “chasing” and it is a difficult process because the metal is involved. Any imperfection such as air pockets of pits must be brazed with bronze rod, as in welding. All seams and spurs must be removed by grinding, rasping and, finally, sanding. The next step is to chase or hammer the vents from the mold using special tools. The natural bronze has a dull finish. after final finishing, a patina is applied which may be left matte of polished. Chemicals, pigments, heat, safety equipment and a lot of experience are involved. In addition, since bronze comes in a variety of alloys, the patina requires different chemicals and techniques.

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