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Dear masters and experts,
I bought this item in which the seller says that it is made of bronze. Is it true? Any one knows its approximate age? Thanks a bunch. luke
When I saw this first I assumed it was cast iron. Have you performed a scratch test?
Nic
Hi Nic, no. Please tell me how I do a scratch test. Thank you
Nic, I tried put a magnet on it and it doesn't attract it at all
Hi Luke,
find an inconspicuous place on the item (usually on the back) and, very carefully, scratch or file away a bit at the surface. This doesn’t need to be a large area, just enough to see what is underneath the surface. It will either be a brass/bronze colour or it will be black/grey. But go gently and take your time.
Depending on how much erosion there is on the surface, you may be able to perform the scratch test with a piece of wire wool, which is much less ‘invasive’, but this can be difficult if it is very ‘crusty’. Maybe some coarse sandpaper would work too.
If it isn’t magnetic, then that rules out iron. The scratch test should narrow it down further for you.
Nic
Will do as you suggested, Nic. Thanks a lot for your time and effort to answer my question
You’re welcome. You won’t need to remove a lot, the base colour should show through quite quickly.
Buffing the area afterwards should produce a shine that will highlight the colour too.
Good luck! Hope it is bronze!
Nic
There it is. Golden colour. So is it bronze or brass? or else?
Excellent!
it looks very weathered, there seems to be some black lichen spots when I enlarge photo 1? But there is no verdigris that I can see. That’s unusual for Bronze. Lichens would suggest being left outside for a long time, but one would expect to see verdigris on both bronze and copper?
I don’t know if this helps:
https://www.diffen.com/difference/Brass_vs_Bronze
The colour may be the best indicator? Copper is more gold in tone whereas bronze has a reddish hue. Maybe compare the scratch test site with pieces of copper and bronze?
You could also try buffing that bit to a high shine? That may reveal it’s True Tone?
Nic
Hi Luke,
In my opinion it's quite simple: bronze it's an alloy and there are quite a lot of variations, hence the objects appear a bit lighter or darker and their patina varies with different tendencies to oxidation etc. While solid brass or copper are commonly recognisable. Whoever once hold a brass in one hand and bronze in another will know the difference and unfortunately the touch is far better way to determine what are we dealing with rather than looking at a picture. However I think that there are spots that indicate your item is a bronze one - for example legs - they have a very typical patina for bronzes. The condition of the whole surface is a bit confusing. I don't know but only a bronze item that was buried in a ground for a long time should look like this, or if it was exposed to rain and wind. Anyway even if it has a strong brass component it's not a solid brass in my opinion, therefore it's an alloy and that's what bronzes are.
Very interesting item, I like the form and the whole composition, I like it 🙂
All the best,
Adrian
Feel free to browse the store:
www.malkaart.com
Inquiries:
[email protected]
My initial thoughts, artificially aged brass, I thought the consistency of the patination was too even. Looking at the rubbing, once again I thought brass. Looking though at some of the other pictures (the close up of the tail) I can concede to bronze.
Yes Nic, I buffed it to a high shine as you suggested and compared it to another bronze item in my possession in the form of a Javanese gong and the color looks exactly the same. The patination is enigmatic, I agree. Is it buried in the ground in a long time like Adrian has suspected? It could well be! Somehow I feel like this is also an ancient item similar to the dragon kendi I shared recently.
After some googling, I found a similar item, in style and ornamentation that is, but totally different in patination, which is in Asian Art Museum (Chong-Moon Lee for Asian Art and Culture, San Francisco). Please see attachment. Both chickens were acquired in Java. .
Thanks Adrian, I like it too. And the item looks so much better in real life. It seriously "lights up" the atmosphere unto whereever it is put.
Ronm, yes. It is not an easy guess at first. Like Nic, first I thought it was an iron cast but the magnet test proves negatif. The golden color is identical to a bronze gong of Java that I also own. Could this be one of the accustomed ways Javanese likes to make their alloy of bronze in this region of the world? Kindest regards, luke
Hi Luke,
Glad you got to the bottom of it! It is very much like the Javanese example.
If it is a finial, it’s very easy to imagine it toppling off it’s perchand being left in the ground.
Congratulations. It’s very eye-catching!
Nic
Thanks Nic. And thank you for guiding me through the process of find out what metal this is. Isn't it eye-catching? I think I should make the stand for this thing to set on
Hi Luke,
Yes, it would look great on a plinth of some sort, on a table against a light-coloured wall. It would also cast great shadows in the evening!
Nic
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