Relevant categories: Art Deco,Bronzes
(Above photo - Bronze Art Deco Biba Figurine Statue Clarte )
A Biba bronze is a statuette representing the naked figure of a lady and made in the 1920s art deco style. They usually depict a naked lady standing on a pedestal in perfect balance and holding an item(s) in one or both bands. For instance, there are statutes of a lady holding a lamp, which incidentally can be connected to an electric outlet and illuminate your home.
How Is Biba Bronze Made?
(Above photo - Art Deco Bronze Dancer Engime Girl Lamp Figurine Obelisk ) Most of the earliest bronzes were made using the traditional lost wax method. Since it’s a small statue, it is cast as a single piece of bronze. To get bronze, an artist mixes copper, tin, and zinc. He or she melts the metal at 1200 degrees Celsius or more. The liquid bronze is cast into a mold, replacing the wax in the mold. After that, the artist waits until the sculpture has cooled down before removing the plaster. That final process reveals a Biba bronze that’s treated with chemicals to produce a certain patina.
How Do You Care For a Biba Bronze?
(Above photo - The Biba Fashion Store - The Height of the Swinging Sixties Via 1920s Art Deco (Lost London) ) We understand that you bought your art deco Biba bronze to display inside your home for your family, friends, and visitors to behold. You need to take good care of it by taking simple daily measures that will prolong its life and make look good. The following are some of the things you can do to take good care of your Biba bronze:
1. Cleaning
(Above photo - Art Deco Bronze Obelisk Female Statue - Biba Column Tray ) You should always clean your Biba bronze of dust and other particles that settle on the surface. That involves wiping with a dry cloth. However, if the sculpture has been tarnished, you should take great care while cleaning it. You need to clean it gently preferably with a non-commercial cleaner.
For stubborn tarnishes, it is great to use a polishing pad or buffing wheel. You will pass these over the surface of the sculpture while avoiding to scrape off too much metal. If you remove too much metal, you may distort the shape of the sculpture and even mess with its patina. If you do not have the right tools for the job, then ask for help from a professional cleaner.
2. Polishing the Surface
(Above photo - Art Deco Serenity bronze by Max Leverrier ) This process involves applying polish or wax on the surface. While at it, you should avoid applying products with known cleaning agents since that can mess up the patina. So, look for an inert wax, recommended by foundry owners. Apply a thin, even layer of wax using a soft brush before buffing with a soft bristle brush or a rag. If you live in hot humid areas, you should apply wax more often to prevent corrosion. After application, the wax should sit for between six and twelve hours before the surface is polished once more. You may add another layer of gloss where necessary. The more frequently you apply wax to a Biba bronze, the better.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to take good care of your Biba bronze, we expect you to keep it in perfect shape always. From now on, the statuettes adorning your home should look shiny and pleasing to the eye.
More articles on art deco bonzes from Canonbury Antiques Knowledge Base:
Deco Bronze Table Lamp - Biba ...
Art Deco Bronze Obelisk Female...
Bronze Art Deco Figurine Biba ...
Art Deco Bronze Dancer Engime ...
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