What is Patina


As a general term, patina refers to the change in an object's surface resulting from natural aging. (Patina preservation is the reason to avoid all but very superficial cleaning of old objects.) In bronze sculpture, patina specifically refers to the surface of the bronze itself often altered by the sculptor with acid or the application of other chemicals.

Frances Jetter sculpture Dress
Bronze with 24K Gold Patina

Why does patina matter on a bronze?

Artfully applied, a surface patina highlights the modeling of the bronze and therefore enhances its beauty and value. Famed British 20th century sculptor Henry Moore once said that he used a patina the opposite of the way a woman used face powder: to amplify contours rather than to minimize them.

Are patinas always good?

Alas, no. One has only to compare patinas on Rodin bronzes. Look through the patinas of the fine photos in this Boston College Online Rodin Exhibition, then study some of the newer Rodin bronzes on the auction block. The patinas on these later re-castes are often times as subtle as black shoe polish.

What about colorful patinas?

A light touch is key: Some sculptors of the American West employ tinted highlights, and certain contemporary bronze sculptors use high color. Unless these accents truly reinforce the intent of the piece, color can degrade into kitsch


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