The cost range for bronze statues can vary based on size and complexity. Generally speaking, the price of bronze statues ranges from $500 to $20,000. Small-sized statues typically range from $500 to $1,000, while medium-sized statues can cost between $1,000 and $20,000. Large-scale or monumental statues can range from $20,000 to several hundred thousand or even millions of dollars.
Please visit our website for more information on this topic.
These prices are influenced by factors such as size, complexity, level of detail, artist reputation, materials used, customization, and client preferences. It’s important to consult with YouFine artists directly and obtain quotes for accurate estimates, as each project’s cost is determined by specific details and negotiations.
Cost Range for Bronze Statues
A. Small-Sized Bronze Statues Cost
The cost range for small-sized bronze statues typically falls between $500 and $1,000. These statues are usually around 12 to 18 inches in height and involve simpler designs and fewer intricate details compared to larger sculptures.
B. Medium-Sized Bronze Statues Cost
The price range for medium-sized bronze statues varies from $1,000 to $20,000. These sculptures are generally between 18 inches and 3 feet in height and may feature more complex designs and finer details. The cost increases as the size and level of intricacy increase.
C. Large-Scale Bronze Statues Price
Large-scale or monumental bronze statues could range in price from $20,000 to several hundred thousand dollars or even millions of dollars. These statues are typically larger than 3 feet and could reach towering heights. The cost is influenced by factors such as size, complexity, level of detail, and the reputation and demand for the artist’s work.
At YouFine Foundry, our bronze statues are more affordable and competitively priced. We are a direct factory, our artists have been casting bronze figures and animal statues for generations, and we are very good at casting life-size and oversized bronze landmark sculptures. In particular, we have numerous clay models with life-size sculptures. These statues come in sizes of 6 feet. Their prices range from US$1,500 to US$5,000. Especially the 6-foot bronze figures and animal statues of our existing clay models are more affordable.
E. More Factors of Bronze Statue Cost
It’s important to note that the prices mentioned above are general estimates and could vary significantly based on several factors. These factors include the artist’s reputation, skill, and experience; the uniqueness and complexity of the design; the materials used; the level of customization or personalization; and the specific requirements and preferences of the client. Each sculpture is unique, and the final price is determined through negotiations between the artist and the client, taking into account these various factors.
It’s advisable to consult with the artist directly or obtain quotes from multiple artists to get a more accurate estimate for the desired bronze statue, as each project’s cost could vary depending on specific details and requirements.
Introduction to the Cost of Bronze Sculptures
Bronze sculptures are renowned for their beauty, durability, and artistic value. However, the cost of creating a bronze sculpture could vary significantly based on several factors. Understanding these factors could help individuals and art enthusiasts make informed decisions when considering the purchase or commissioning of a bronze sculpture.
Factors that influence the cost of bronze sculptures include the size and scale of the artwork, the complexity and level of detail involved, the reputation and skill of the artist, and any customization or personalization requests. Larger sculptures generally require more materials and time to create, which could contribute to higher costs. Similarly, sculptures with intricate details and complex designs may involve additional craftsmanship and expertise, resulting in a higher price tag.
The reputation and skill of the artist also play a role in determining the cost of a bronze sculpture. Artists with established reputations and extensive experience often command higher prices for their work. Their expertise and artistic vision contribute to the overall value of the sculpture.
Customization and personalization are other factors that could influence the cost of a bronze sculpture. If individuals have specific design requests or want a unique, one-of-a-kind sculpture, the artist may need to invest more time and effort into the project, leading to higher costs.
It’s important to note that additional costs may be associated with bronze sculptures, such as installation and transportation expenses, as well as ongoing maintenance and preservation costs. Proper installation and transportation require specialized knowledge and equipment, which could incur additional charges. Regular maintenance, cleaning, repairs, and the application of protective coatings are essential for preserving the sculpture’s integrity and may contribute to the overall cost of ownership.
By considering these factors and understanding the cost range for bronze sculptures, individuals could make informed decisions when investing in these timeless and captivating art pieces.
Factors Affecting the Cost of Bronze Sculptures
A. Scale and Size
The size of a sculpture plays a significant role in determining its cost. Larger sculptures generally require more materials, labor, and resources, resulting in higher expenses. Here’s a discussion on how the size of a sculpture influences its cost and the challenges associated with constructing larger sculptures:
Materials: Larger sculptures require a greater quantity of bronze or other materials, leading to increased material costs. Bronze is typically priced by weight, so a larger sculpture would naturally incur higher material expenses.
Labor and Time: Creating a larger sculpture demands more time and effort from the artist and their team. The intricate process of sculpting, casting, and finishing becomes more complex and time-consuming, which could increase the labor costs involved.
Equipment and Facilities: Constructing larger sculptures often requires specialized equipment, tools, and facilities. The size and weight of the sculpture may necessitate heavy-duty machinery, larger kilns for casting, and adequate workspace. Acquiring and maintaining such equipment and facilities could contribute to the overall expenses.
Transportation and Installation: Larger sculptures are more challenging to transport and install due to their size and weight. Specialized equipment and professional services may be required for safe transportation and proper installation, leading to additional costs.
Site Preparation and Foundation: Installing larger sculptures may involve site preparation and the construction of a sturdy foundation to support the artwork’s weight and ensure its stability. These preparations could add to the overall cost of the sculpture.
Artistic Challenges: Creating a larger sculpture presents artistic challenges as well. The artist must consider the structural integrity, balance, and aesthetics of the artwork on a larger scale. Scaling up the design while maintaining intricate details and proportions requires a high level of skill and expertise, which could influence the cost.
Maintenance and Conservation: Larger sculptures often require more extensive maintenance and conservation efforts. Regular cleaning, preservation treatments, and occasional repairs become more labor-intensive and time-consuming, contributing to the overall cost of ownership.
It is important to consider these factors when commissioning or purchasing a larger sculpture. The increased size brings about additional challenges and expenses, but it also offers a unique and impactful artistic statement. By understanding the implications of size on cost, individuals could make informed decisions and appreciate the craftsmanship and artistry that goes into creating larger sculptures.
B. Complexity and Detail
The complexity of details and intricate designs could significantly influence the cost of a bronze sculpture. Here’s a discussion on how complex details affect the cost:
Labor Intensity: Sculptures with intricate details require a higher level of craftsmanship and precision. The artist needs to invest more time and effort into sculpting the intricate features, which could increase labor costs.
Skill and Expertise: Creating complex details requires advanced artistic skills and expertise. Artists with exceptional craftsmanship and experience may charge higher fees for their specialized abilities to capture intricate textures, facial expressions, or delicate elements.
Material Consumption: Elaborate designs often require more material usage. Intricate sculptures may have additional protrusions, textures, or fine elements that necessitate the use of additional bronze, which could contribute to higher material costs.
Production Challenges: Complex details may present technical challenges during the casting and finishing processes. Molds for intricate designs require greater intricacy and precision, and the casting process may require more time and attention to capture and reproduce the fine details accurately.
High-detail bronze sculptures require specific processes and techniques to bring out the intricacies. Here are some key points related to the craftsmanship involved:
Fine Artistic Techniques: Achieving high detail in a bronze sculpture often involves the use of various artistic techniques, such as carving, engraving, or chasing. These techniques require a high level of skill and expertise to meticulously shape and refine the details.
Patination and Finishing: The patination process, which adds color and texture to the sculpture’s surface, plays a crucial role in highlighting intricate details. Applying patina requires careful control and precision to ensure that the details are enhanced without compromising the overall aesthetics.
Surface Treatment: High-detail sculptures may require additional surface treatments to refine and emphasize specific elements. This could involve techniques like polishing, texturing, or applying specialized coatings to accentuate the details and create visual impact.
Quality Control: Producing high-detail sculptures necessitates rigorous quality control measures. Close attention must be paid to ensure that each detail is accurately replicated and meets the artist’s vision. This level of quality control requires additional time and effort, contributing to the overall cost.
Creating high-detail bronze sculptures is a labor-intensive and intricate process that demands exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail. The artistic skill, additional material usage, and specialized techniques involved in capturing intricate designs all contribute to the cost of these unique and remarkable artworks.
C. Artist’s Reputation and Skill
Explaining how renowned artists charge higher prices for their artworks:
Reputation and Recognition: Famous artists have built a reputation and gained recognition for their exceptional talent and artistic contributions. Their established name and brand value allow them to command higher prices for their sculptures. Collectors and art enthusiasts are willing to pay a premium for the prestige associated with owning artwork created by a well-known artist.
Demand and Market Value: Renowned artists often have a strong demand for their work, creating a competitive market where prices could increase. Limited supply and high demand contribute to the higher prices set by famous artists.
Artistic Legacy: Artists who have made significant contributions to the art world and have an established artistic legacy could justify higher prices based on their historical importance and cultural significance. Their works become part of art history, influencing the value and desirability of their sculptures.
Discussing how an artist’s skills and experience affect the cost:
Expertise and Mastery: Highly skilled artists with extensive experience in bronze sculpture possess a deep understanding of the medium and its techniques. Their mastery allows them to create intricate and visually stunning sculptures. The level of skill and expertise an artist brings to a project could justify higher prices due to the quality and craftsmanship exhibited in their work.
Artistic Vision and Creativity: Artists who demonstrate unique artistic vision and creative approaches could offer original and captivating sculptures. Their ability to conceive innovative designs and execute them with precision and creativity adds value to their work, warranting higher prices.
Technical Proficiency: Artists proficient in various technical aspects of bronze sculpture, such as casting, patination, and finishing, could deliver exceptional results. Their technical expertise ensures the highest level of craftsmanship and attention to detail, which could contribute to higher costs.
Portfolio and Exhibition Record: A diverse and impressive portfolio, along with a strong exhibition record, could enhance an artist’s reputation and market value. Artists who have exhibited their work in prestigious galleries or participated in renowned art events may command higher prices due to their established track record and the exposure they have received.
The combination of an artist’s reputation, demand, artistic legacy, skills, experience, and creativity all play a role in determining the higher prices charged by renowned artists. Collectors and art enthusiasts recognize and appreciate the value that these artists bring to their sculptures, making them desirable and sought after in the art market.
D. Customization and Personalization
Customized or personalized statues may have higher costs due to the following factors:
Unique Design Requirements: Custom statues often involve specific design requests from clients, such as incorporating personal elements, specific themes, or detailed features. The artist needs to spend additional time and effort to understand and translate the client’s vision into a sculptural form. This customization process may require multiple iterations, consultations, and revisions, leading to increased costs.
Materials and Resources: Creating a customized statue may involve sourcing unique materials or specialized resources to fulfill the client’s requirements. These materials may be more expensive or require additional effort to acquire, increasing the overall cost of the sculpture.
Artistic Expertise and Collaboration: Customized statues often require close collaboration between the client and the artist. The artist’s expertise and ability to translate the client’s ideas into a tangible sculpture are vital. This collaborative process may involve additional consultations, concept development, and communication, which could contribute to higher costs.
Limited Edition or One-of-a-kind: Customized statues are often produced as limited editions or one-of-a-kind pieces. The exclusivity and rarity of these sculptures could drive up the cost, as they hold a higher value for collectors and individuals seeking unique artworks.
Creating unique designs involves additional time and effort for the following reasons:
Conceptualization and Design Development: Designing a unique sculpture requires extensive brainstorming, research, and ideation. The artist needs to invest time in conceptualizing a distinctive and original design that aligns with the client’s vision and preferences. This process could be time-consuming and involves experimentation and exploration of various design possibilities.
Prototyping and Mock-ups: To ensure the client’s satisfaction and to visualize the final sculpture accurately, the artist may create prototypes or mock-ups. These physical or digital representations help the client visualize the design before committing to the final sculpture. Developing and refining these prototypes could add extra time and effort to the overall process.
Fine-tuning and Detailing: Unique designs often involve intricate details, complex features, or unconventional forms. Achieving the desired level of precision and craftsmanship requires meticulous attention to detail and skillful execution. The artist may need to spend more time perfecting the intricacies of the sculpture, resulting in increased effort and cost.
Iterations and Revisions: Creating a unique design may involve a collaborative process with the client, where feedback and revisions are incorporated. The artist may need to make adjustments, refine certain aspects, or explore alternative ideas based on client input. These iterations and revisions could prolong the creation process and require additional effort.
Creating unique designs for customized sculptures demands extra time and effort to ensure the client’s vision is accurately captured and executed. The artist’s dedication to bringing the client’s personalized concept to life adds value to the sculpture but also contributes to higher costs.
You will get efficient and thoughtful service from XIANGTAI.
Additional Costs to Consider
A. Installation and Transportation
Installing and transporting bronze statues could incur additional expenses that should be considered in the overall cost. The process of installation involves careful planning, site preparation, and the use of specialized equipment and tools. Depending on the size and weight of the statue, professional riggers, and installers may be required to ensure safe and secure placement.
Transportation costs could also vary depending on the distance and logistics involved. Large or heavy bronze statues may require specialized vehicles, such as cranes or flatbed trucks, for transportation. Additionally, protective packaging and crating may be necessary to safeguard the statue during transit, adding to the overall expenses.
The installation and transportation of bronze statues typically require the expertise of professionals who specialize in handling and moving artworks. These professionals have the necessary knowledge and experience to ensure the safe handling, transportation, and installation of the statues.
Professional assistance is important to mitigate risks of damage to the sculpture and to ensure the safety of those involved in the process. They are equipped with specialized tools and equipment, such as cranes, hoists, and rigging systems, which are essential for lifting and positioning heavy statues accurately.
Engaging professional services not only helps protect the artwork but also provides peace of mind, knowing that experienced individuals are overseeing the installation and transportation process. It is recommended to work closely with art logistics companies or specialized art handlers who have expertise in handling and transporting valuable and delicate artworks like bronze statues.
B. Maintenance and Preservation
Regular maintenance and preservation are essential for bronze statues to ensure their longevity, aesthetic appeal, and historical significance. Here are some key reasons why regular maintenance is important:
Prevention of corrosion: Bronze statues are susceptible to corrosion and oxidation over time due to exposure to environmental elements. Regular maintenance, including cleaning and application of protective coatings, helps to prevent corrosion and maintain the integrity of the statue’s surface.
Preservation of the original appearance: Bronze statues could accumulate dirt, pollutants, and other contaminants that could dull their appearance and obscure fine details. Regular cleaning helps to remove these deposits and restore the statue’s original luster, allowing its beauty and craftsmanship to shine through.
Structural integrity: Over time, bronze statues may develop cracks, loose parts, or other structural issues. Regular inspections and repairs could help identify and address these problems early on, preventing further damage and ensuring the statue’s stability and structural integrity.
Historical and cultural significance: Many bronze statues hold significant historical, cultural, and artistic value. Regular maintenance helps to preserve their historical context and cultural heritage for future generations to appreciate and study.
Costs associated with cleaning, repairs, and protective coatings for bronze statues could vary depending on various factors, including the size, complexity, condition, and location of the statue. Here are some cost considerations:
Cleaning: The cost of professional cleaning could depend on the size of the statue, the level of dirt and grime buildup, and the cleaning method used. Simple cleaning tasks may range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, while more extensive cleaning or restoration projects could cost several thousand dollars or more.
Repairs: The cost of repairs depends on the extent of damage, the complexity of the restoration work required, and the skills of the artisans involved. Minor repairs, such as addressing small cracks or reattaching loose parts, could cost a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. However, more significant repairs, such as recreating missing parts or extensive restoration, could cost several thousand dollars or more.
Protective coatings: Applying protective coatings, such as wax or sealants, is an important preventive measure to safeguard the bronze statue. The cost of protective coatings could vary depending on the size of the statue, the number of coatings needed, and the type of product used. Costs could range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
It’s important to note that these cost estimates are general guidelines and could vary significantly based on the specific requirements of each statute and the expertise of the professionals involved. It’s recommended to consult with experienced conservators or restoration specialists who could assess the condition of the statue and provide a detailed cost estimate tailored to its unique needs.
Examples and Case Studies
A. Examples of well-known bronze statues and their estimated costs
“The Statue of Liberty” – The iconic Statue of Liberty in New York City, USA, is estimated to have cost around $250,000 when it was completed in 1886. Adjusted for inflation, this would be equivalent to several million dollars today.
“The Thinker” – Auguste Rodin’s famous sculpture “The Thinker” is considered one of the most recognized bronze statues in the world. Original casts of this sculpture have been sold for millions of dollars at auctions.
“David” – Michelangelo’s masterpiece “David” is a renowned marble sculpture, but there have also been bronze casts made of this iconic figure. The cost of a bronze cast of “David” could range from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, depending on the size and edition.
B. Case studies of commissioned bronze statues and their pricing details
“The Spirit of Detroit” – The bronze statue of “The Spirit of Detroit” in Detroit, Michigan, USA, was commissioned in 1955 and cost approximately $58,000 at that time. Adjusted for inflation, it would be equivalent to several hundred thousand dollars today.
“Nelson Mandela Statue” – The bronze statue of Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa, was commissioned in 2002 and cost around 8 million South African Rand (approximately $550,000 at that time). This includes the cost of materials, artist fees, installation, and associated expenses.
“Albert Einstein Memorial” – The bronze statue of Albert Einstein located in Washington, D.C., USA, was commissioned in 1979 and cost around $1.5 million. This includes the cost of designing, casting, installation, and site preparation.
These examples highlight the range of costs associated with well-known and commissioned bronze statues. It’s important to note that the actual costs could vary depending on factors such as the size, complexity, location, artist’s reputation, and other specific requirements of each individual project.
YouFine Offers Competitive and Reasonable Prices
Considering the various factors, it’s important to emphasize the cost range of bronze statues and encourage customers to consider their budget, needs, and desired artistic quality when making a purchase. We urge you to explore your options and make an informed decision.
If you’re interested in acquiring a bronze statue, we recommend reaching out to professionals or artists at YouFine Bronze Gallery for further inquiries or assistance. Our factory offers competitive and reasonable prices, and we have been engaged in bronze sculpture casting and exporting for over 40 years. We have provided customers from around the world with a wide range of designs, including life-size and monumental bronze sculptures at affordable prices.
Don’t hesitate to contact our knowledgeable team to discuss your specific requirements and explore the possibilities of owning a stunning bronze artwork that fits your budget and exceeds your expectations. We are here to help you bring your artistic vision to life.
Now is not the time to say “I don’t know much about art”.
If you’re like most of our clients, this is the first, and possibly last, time you will need to commission a one-of-a-kind custom bronze statue. You might say something like “I don’t know much about art”. The truth is that you know almost everything that you need to know to choose the highest quality sculptor your budget will allow.
Use this document as a guide to making the daunting task of creating a monument that will be around for hundreds of years a bit less stressful. First, find a few sculptor’s websites and look closely at the images. What do you see? Do the faces look like real people? Now look closely at a real person’s face who is near you. It is an incredibly complex form, full of concave and convex volumes, subtle lines that were formed from decades of smiles and frowns. Does your sculptor’s work respect and honor the beauty of the human form? Don’t settle for “kind-of”. You don’t have to! Every human head and body is unique, and if you choose a skilled sculptor, your statue will be as well.
These days a lot of people can create a bronze sculpture that vaguely resembles a human being, but it takes a highly trained artist to develop a composition that will end up being a timeless piece of art. Forever is too long to purchase anything less than the best your art budget will allow.
Will your sculptor give you the contact info of their last 3 clients?
Many of these 10 questions will speak to the skill and the artistry of the sculptor. This one, though, is mostly about good business practices, i.e. meeting deadlines and clear communication.
Typically when you are creating a large public monument, there will be an unveiling event. Events mean hard deadlines with no room for error. Does your sculptor have a history of setting realistic timelines and then meeting them without excuses? Does your sculptor communicate consistently and effectively? A large sculpture can take from 7 months to more than a year to complete depending on the size. Your sculptor should keep you in the loop the entire course of the project. The past clients will key you into how well a sculptor handles the project management aspect of public art pieces. Testimonials are great, but you deserve to work with a sculptor who leaves all of their clients thrilled about the relationship and resulting artwork, not just the few who give a quote for their website.
Can you personally visit the studio of your chosen sculptor?
If you are within a 3 hour drive of you sculptor’s studio, this is a no brainer. Being inside the studio of the creator that will bring your sculpture to life will give you priceless information about the quality of the sculpture you will receive. If you are a plane ride away, it might seem extravagant. However, you are probably planning on spending tens of thousands of dollars for a bronze statue that your Great-Great-Great-Great Grandchildren will be able to see. A plane ticket is cheap insurance to make sure you are getting the quality you deserve.
Will your artwork include a figure in motion?
Capturing motion that is full of life in a bronze sculpture is a very tricky endeavor. The difference between a stiff and lifeless bronze figure and dynamic, inspiring artwork is obvious when you see them side by side. Either a sculptor is capable of translating bronze into life, or they aren’t. Those that aren’t capable will still be happy to sell you a bronze figure, but it won’t be a piece of art your community can cherish for hundreds of years. Your community is spending tens of thousands of dollars either way – make sure you see sculptures that your artist has created that feel full of life.
Does your sculpture include a likeness of a specific person?
If so, it is imperative that you look closely at the artist’s skill at capturing the spirit of the person that you are memorializing. A likeness does not just simply copy a photograph, or put the eyes the correct distance apart. A skilled sculptor will view dozens and dozens of photos, trying to tease out the personality of the person. They will conduct personal interviews of those close to the subject. Typically a portrait artist will blend many aspects of different photos to arrive at a likeness that, for whatever reason, makes the people who know say “ That’s him!” or “Oh my, she’s standing right there”. Quite often, when a close relative views a portrait crafted by a highly skilled portraitist, the result is spontaneous tears. Don’t settle for less. The bronze statue will be here long after we are all gone.
Does your sculptor work closely with an experienced Fine Art Foundry?
The craft of figurative sculpture and the craft of bronze casting each require enormous dedication and intense practice to achieve mastery. They are very different disciplines and require very different skill sets. Rarely are the best sculptors also the best founders, and vise-versa. True, having a small in-house foundry can give the illusion of a lower cost, but someone still has to pay the welder! Experienced fine art foundries often handle all of the casting of dozens or more full time sculptors. There is quite a bit more baked-in learning and mastery when you are casting metal Every. Single. Day. To create the best monument, sculptors should sculpt and foundries should cast.
Will your sculptor educate you on the regular maintenance of bronze sculpture and develop a specific maintenance schedule for your work of art?
Maintenance for an outdoor bronze sculpture is fairly simple as long as it’s maintained on a regular basis and that the nuances of your statue have been thought out and explained by the artist that create the piece. (Here is a link to our maintenance recommendations.){Link to our A QUICK AND EASY GUIDE TO CARING FOR OUTDOOR BRONZE SCULPTURES article}
Does your sculptor’s foundry use the highest quality silicon bronze for casting?
Our foundry uses #873 Everdur Bronze ingots. This silicon bronze alloy is 95% copper, 4% Silicon, and 1% Manganese. The high copper content, as well as the specific properties of the silicon and manganese in combination, make it the gold standard for bronze casting today. It is a great alloy for the foundry to work with, which means better quality castings, and it stands up incredibly well to the elements, which means it will be around, and pleasing to look at for centuries. It is far, far, far, superior to the multitude of cheap bronze alloys that have a lower copper content. Often, especially overseas, metals that are much cheaper than copper are substituted to save money. This is an incredibly short sighted choice, and a sign that you won’t be happy days, months, or years down the road.
Does your sculptor’s contract limit the number of suggestions or revisions that you as a client may request?
When a sculptor is offering you a rock bottom price, he is likely assuming that you will be perfectly happy with everything on the first viewing of the finished clay. But what if you, the customer paying for a timeless work of art, see something that needs addressing, or something about the sculpture that just doesn’t work for you? Many sculptors will contractually limit the number of “revisions” a client can request. You are investing in a timeless piece of fine art, and generations to come will judge the success or failure of the project. You deserve the respect and peace of mind that comes with a sculptor who doesn’t consider the sculpture complete until you are satisfied.
Do you like him or her?
I know that this seems like a somewhat silly question. The relationship between a client and a sculptor must be better than cordial. After all, you as a client are asking this person to use their skill to capture something very special to you and near to your heart. This isn’t just a purchase order, this is a timeless piece of fine art. It is nearly impossible to capture the vision of someone who you don’t share at least a passing friendship with. There is just too much empathy involved in successfully seeing a client’s vision and then bringing it into the world for the project to be just a transaction. Additionally, the stereotype of artists who take themselves too seriously or assume their vision is most important is all too often true. A truly gifted sculptor will see your project as a collaboration. A good sculptor should listen to you and your committee’s ideas and concerns, and act on those that are appropriate and improve the concept, and push back a bit when his or her expertise says otherwise. After all, you hired the sculptor for their skills, and they agreed to help bring your vision to life. Harry Truman said, “It is amazing what you can get accomplished if you don’t care who gets the credit.” A good sculptor should make you look good.
Did you ask about Timelines, Deadlines and Testimonials?
This last question isn’t for your sculptor, it is for your sculptor’s past clients. CALL THEM! The insight they can give you will be worth its weight in gold if it helps direct you to the right sculptor. Bronze statues, if done correctly, take a long time. It isn’t unusual for a monumental bronze to take over a year to complete, and every next step depends on the one before. One missed deadline at the beginning of a project can have cascading effects down the line. So the question is, does your sculptor set clear, realistic deadlines and then meet them? It always amazes me how common it is for people to promise one thing and then deliver something far different.
Setting realistic project milestones and communicating to the client the steps that will require their approval before continuing (like approving a maquette, etc) is perhaps the most important non-sculptural part of a successful statue project. Spending 30 minutes on the phone with three of the sculptor’s past clients is time incredibly well spent. A statue can only be a timeless work of art if it gets completed! And no one likes the sour taste of a rescheduled unveiling day.
Will your sculptor assist with installation, technical drawings, and making sure it doesn’t fall over?
What a travesty to spend hundreds of hours and tens of thousands of dollars on a bronze monument and then just plop it on the ground with hardly any consideration for the site. There are two major issues here to consider. First, aesthetics. There is an enormous difference between a statue bolted down to a sidewalk and a statue that was designed to fit in a space that was designed to accept it. The difference is, quite often, just intention and a deliberate discussion about the site. Sometimes it involves extra costs to prepare the site or the addition of a pedestal element, sometimes it just requires a trained sculptor to ask a few good questions.
The second consideration has considerably higher stakes. It is insufficient to simply drill holes in a sidewalk, squeeze in some epoxy and set the statue down. Sure, if the sidewalk was poured correctly, it might work, but in reality there needs to be a footer that has been designed and stamped by a certified engineer. We always provide detailed installation instructions for site prep and statue installation, and I am personally present for all installations. I want to make sure that our clients are happy and that the statue is installed the way it was intended.
Hopefully this has helped you wrap your brain around the process of creating a unique, one-of-a-kind work of art. It is pretty common for this to be a new experience for our customers. The important thing is to take your time and do some quality research. After all, it’s not rocket science… but it is fine art!
If there is anything we can do to help, please let us know. We are happy to talk about your project, and we want you to find the right sculptor for your, so don’t expect any sales pressure from us. As you may have noticed, we love talking sculpture!
If you want to learn more, please visit our website bronze statues cost.
Comments
All Comments (0)