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Of
all metal sculpture-media, bronze art sculptures are arguably
the most popular. This may be because the common bronze
alloys which are used for sculpting purposes tend to expand
slightly before setting. This renders them capable of
filling perfectly into the finest details in the sculptor's
mold. Another reason for the popularity of this media
is its durability as compared to other materials which
are used for sculpting. However the worth and usability
of bronze also has its disadvantages. For example, many
antique bronze sculptures were destroyed at times of war
because of the need for bronze weapons.
The ancient bronze figures that still exist, however,
are evidence of the fact that the metal was a popular
sculpting medium even back in ancient times and gives
one a good idea of the skill of the ancient sculptors
in different parts of the world. Large bronze sculptures
were popular in Greece for instance. One such life-size
Greek bronze is known as, 'The Victorious athlete' and
this figure was revived and restored for modern viewing
in recent times. There is sufficient evidence to suggest
that the Chinese were well-equipped with knowledge and
skill in the area of bronze sculpting. Bronze sculptures
also hailed from ancient Egypt where the trend was to
cast small figures in bronze unlike the contemporary bronze
sculptures from Greece.
Today the market for bronze sculptures includes both mass-produced
sculptures like bronze garden sculptures as well as limited
edition sculptures for sale. The price of these sculptures
may vary with the process used in their manufacture. Making
bronze sculptures takes great skill and effort and various
casting techniques may be used.
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