The foundry is primarily occupied with the casting of sculptures and figures in bronze and other metals.
Sculpturel constructions in bronze plates.
Restoration of sculptures and maintenance of our cultural heritage.
The bronze foundry, “Broncestøberiet”, employs 10 craftsmen, who are all highly professional specialists in their various techniques; stucco workers, chasers and bronze founders, whose expertise has been built on many years of working with the company.
The special casting technique, Cire-perdue (“lost wax”), is used for casting in bronze and other metals.
The policy of the foundry is, and always has been, that the workshops be open work areas.
When casting in bronze and other metals the Cire-perdue/Lost wax technique is used.
The advantage of this technique is that there are basically no limitations, in terms of size or complexity, for the projects which Broncestøberiet can engage in. So far now the largest work is 56 sq. m. casted surface and 108 sq. m. construction in bronze plates.
Nor are there limitations regarding the choice of material used for the model or artwork, to be casted. For example: clay, plaster, wax, plasticine, wood, polyester, stone, bone, paper, and so on.
Models in inflammable or partly inflammable materials we cast directly.
Sculptor Hein Heinsen – Photo: Hein Heinsen
Broncestøberiet has 2 fully equipped mobile work stations with truck-mounted cranes which give us the capacity to work on site without having to move the sculptures.
Many sculptors follow their works through the whole process, and the production of the sculptures takes place in close dialogue between the artists/clients and the craftsmen at the foundry.
The artists can also work on their sculptures at the foundry.
They often come to the foundry to review, retouch and sign their wax models, just as they also have the possibility of doing the finishing/chasing on their newly cast sculptures, either alone or in co-operation with a chaser.
Patination of the finished bronze casting takes place in a similar close communication between Broncestøberiet’s craftsmen and the artist.
- Broncestøberiet’s Areas of Production:
- Moulding in silicone and plaster.
- Casting of sculptures and figures in bronce and other metals.
- Casting of sculptures and figures in plaster.
- Casting in cement.
- Construction of sculptures in bronze plates.
- Construction of architectonical elements.
- Restoration projects: reparation, cleaning, patination.
- Maintenance of existing sculptures.
- Model production based on sketches/drawings.
- Enlargement/reduction models of existing sculptures.
- Bronce plaques with inscriptions.
If the model or artwork is too large or fragile to be transported to the foundry, the stucco craftsmen
manufacture the silicone mould at the artist’s studio. This mould is then brought to the foundry for the next phases of the process.
Broncestøberiet gives advice and guidance in technical solutions concerning, for example, reinforcement, attachment to plinths, foundations, protection against theft and so on.
Broncestøberiet frequently works with other parties in connection with a casting project. Through the years we have established a good network of smitheries, stone masons, gild works, engravers, sculpture consultants, engineers, architects, conservators and others, and we can help with establishing the necessary contacts.
Broncestøberiet has official environmental certification, and recycles a great quantity of materials in the work processes and additionally, endeavours to utilise the most environment-friendly materials at all times.
The foundry continuously carries out trials with new materials, in order to improve the quality, both of the work situation and of the finished sculptures.
Museums, and both domestic and foreign foundries, are also included among our project partners.
The foundry always gives non-obligation prices based on photographs, drawings or sketches with the specified measurements, before work is commenced.
The oldest discovered traces of the Cire-perdue method date back to 4000 BC, in Mesopotamia, which makes Cire-perdue the oldest known casting technique.
In a Danish historical perspective, Cire-perdue has been used as far back as the Bronze Age. “The Lures”, “The Sun Chariot”, “The Golden Horns”, weapons and ornaments have all been cast using Cire-perdue.
A fascinating idea indeed that, in spite of new materials and production technology, the basic casting principle is still as applicable and invaluable, some 6000 years after its earliest known origin.