Guidelines for the Technical Examination of Bronze Sculpture

Edited by David Bourgarit, Jane Bassett, Francesca Bewer, Arlen Heginbotham, Andrew Lacey, and Peta Motture   The essential reference for anyone engaged in the material study of cast bronze sculpture. Since the fourth millennium BCE, bronze has been the preferred medium for some of the most prestigious and sacred works of art. But only through interdisciplinary research can the fabrication of these extraordinary objects be properly investigated, interpreted, and documented. This innovative publication bridges the expertise of myriad art-technological specialists to create a new framework for advancing the understanding of bronze sculpture. Essential reading for curators, conservators, scientists, archaeologists, sculptors, metallurgists, founders, dealers, collectors, and anyone interested in the life cycle of a bronze, this volume explains how to identify the evidence of process steps, metals used, casting defects, and surface work and alterations before moving on to address analytic