Care
and feeding of patinaed, bronze
sculpture:
The primary maintenance is a yearly waxing. If the
piece is outside, handled, cleaned or in the sun with
any regularity it would be wise to wax more often. It
cannot be waxed too much.
Any carnauba paste wax would suffice; I personally use
“Johnson’s paste wax.” It’s cheap and available at most
hardware stores. Harder and more resilient waxes may be
available at some art supply stores where
bronze-casting materials can be found.
The waxing process is similar to that of a car. The wax
is rubbed on with a soft cloth, allowed to harden just
to the point where it doesn’t smear when rubbed off
with a clean terry cloth. Then rub the wax off
vigorously with a clean terry cloth until it gains a
smooth luster. Repeat wax and buff at least once if not
a few times. The more coats the more it shines.
Fountains will always have mineral deposits and
discoloration near the water line and anywhere water
touches regularly. Highly filtered or distilled water
will reduce this. Light rubbing can sometimes remove a
percentage of buildup.
If the piece has un-patinaed surfaces they will tarnish
over time. If it were your desire to keep these as
bright and shiny as possible I would recommend bringing
the piece back to me for surfacing. Any slip of the
abrasive pads could scratch and metal polishes damage
the patina.
If you already have scratches or abrasions that need
attention these can be tended too as well. Contact me
for advice or repair.
Do caution against exposing the piece to extreme ph.
Acids or bases will affect patina. Cat urine in
particular will greatly affect patina without chance of
repair.
Care of
painted and coated sculpture:
Most steel sculptures of mine are painted with a
durable, washable paint and intended for outdoor
installation. These can be washed like a car for dirt
and foliage. A pressure washer can disturb cracked
paint but is otherwise fine.
Care is the same for a powder coated or galvanized
piece.