The History of Bronze Casting

-Bronze is a mixture of copper and zinc

-Before 4,000 B.C., artisans worked with pure copper. The addition of tin (about 3% of the mixture) produces a much stronger metal

-Ancient artisans were quick to adopt the innovative metalogy which grew to be so widespread it launched a new era called the Bronze Age, circa 3,500-1,200 B.C.

-Some of the oldest and finest examples date from the 14th century B.C., made by artisans in China

-Scholars credit the Chinese with developing the “Lost wax” process that made it possible to cast complex works of art

-Bronze Gui of Shi You, Western Zhou Dynasty (1046- 771 B.C.) [first picture]

-The leid and body of this container are both decorated with tile and ring patterns. They feature engraved inscriptions, which record that the King Zhou gave a fifedom to Shi You, ordering that he inherit the tile as well as the land and people living there.

-Ancient Chinese Bells from the Xia Dynasty (2000- 221 B.C.) [pictures 2-5]

-At the same time the Etruscans were developing new methods to work with the metal, as did the Romans

- “The Chimera of Arezzo” (400 B.C.) [picture 6]

- “The Capitoline She-Wolf” (500 B.C.- 480 B.C.) [picture 7]

-From helmets and cannons for war, to bells for religious purposes, bronze forged a permanent role in cultures worldwide

-Bronze work wasn’t just limited to the “great” civilizations such as Rome and Greece

-The Benin culture in Nigeria was known for its skill and artistry in bronze works

-Benin artisans created ritual objects that became prized all over the world and widely collected

-Filipino craftsmen were casting small bronze cannons that grew to be so important the cannon was often the only thing salvaged from the frequent shipwrecks of the past

-The appreciation for bronze was further enhanced in 1432, when Italian artist Donatello cast his bronze sculpture of David

- “David”, Donatello (1430-32) [picture 8]

-It was the first free-standing nude produced since the classical period

-Many original bronze pieces were lost.

-Greek artists melted down older statues to create new, more naturalistic ones. -The Romans and other invaders melted the bronze to create weapons, shields, and armor.

-Fortunately the Romans also admired the Greek statues and often made marble copies before destroying the original.

-The bronze statues that survived were often found in shipwrecks in the sea