Bronze Sculpture Cleaning and Maintenance

Bronze sculptures bring a dramatic and classic look to any decor. However, these stylish pieces require care and attention to maintain their look throughout the years. Most bronze today is composed of 95 percent copper, which tends to darken with age, but there a number of measures you can take to keep your favorite bronze sculpture looking its best.

Basic maintenance

Bronze sculptures that are indoors require very little maintenance. A simple dry cotton cloth to wipe away dust and fingerprints is usually enough to do the trick. Newer bronze sculptures are typically sealed with a synthetic lacquer finish and a coat of wax to produce a shiny finish. It is important to remember to never use spray or liquid furniture polish on your bronze sculpture because they may contain oils that would damage the original finish of the sculpture. Drier climates usually only require you to wax your bronze sculpture once to every year or two, but humid climates with more airborne pollutants may require you to wax your bronze sculpture up to twice per year.

Waxing your bronze sculpture

First, you will need a couple of one to two-inch paint brushes to apply the wax to your bronze sculpture. Remember to use new paint brushes. This is important because brushes that have been used for painting or that have other chemicals present on the bristles could cause permanent damage and discoloration to your bronze sculpture. Next, follow these easy steps to maintain the finish of your bronze sculpture.

1. Apply a protective circle of tape around the metal parts of the paint brush to ensure that you will not scratch the surface of your bronze sculpture.

2. Wipe down your bronze sculpture thoroughly with a clean, dry, cotton cloth. Be sure to clean out all the crevices and hard to reach areas.

3. Be sure not to use too much wax as it, ultimately, could be harmful to the finish of your bronze sculpture. Use sweeping strokes to apply the wax to the paint brush. Do not dab the brushes into the wax. Remove excess wax, and then apply a very thin layer to the surface of the bronze sculpture.

4. Consider reapplying a second coat of wax once you have finished and allowed the first coat of wax to dry according to the directions on the wax canister.

Outdoor bronzes

Outdoor bronze sculptures generally require specific maintenance programs to keep them looking their best. Long exposure to the outdoors leads to a great deal of patination, or greening, of the bronze sculpture. There are many companies that specialize in the preservation of outdoor bronze sculptures.

More information on sculptures