Brushed stainless sculpture
Brushed stainless - quieter than mirror, and far more forgiving.
- Shanghai Xionglan Culture Communication Co., Ltd. (brand: Xionglan Art)
- Shanghai-based workshop · delivery in 67 Chinese cities
- 10 capability groups / 102 individual techniques · design, fabrication and installation in-house
- Phone +86 156 0163 6249 · Mon–Sun 09:00–18:00 (CST)
Brushed or satin stainless scatters light instead of reflecting it, which makes form and silhouette read clearly without a distracting reflection. It also hides fingerprints, dust and minor scratches far better than mirror.
Commissioned work in brushed stainless sculpture normally runs from 6 to 30 m², with 8–17 working days in production from approved drawings. The reference range for this technique is CNY 0+ per m², quoted itemised. It sits within our Sculpture Fabrication capability, alongside 13 related techniques, and the 4-point deliverable below is what a commission includes as standard.
When brushed stainless sculpture is the right answer - and when it is not
Brushed stainless is the workhorse finish for exterior sculpture: it reads as metal rather than as mirror, holds its appearance through weather, and is far more forgiving of handling and minor damage than a polished surface. It suits entrances, campuses, corporate and civic art, and any piece where the form should read clearly without competing with its setting. It is not the finish for a piece that must almost vanish, which is what mirror is for.
How the work is actually carried out
The form is fabricated from 304 or 316L plate over an internal armature, with the gauge chosen against the piece's size and wind loading rather than by habit. The brushed grain is applied consistently in one direction, since inconsistent grain is the thing the eye catches first. Welds are dressed and re-grained to match the surrounding surface, which is skilled work and should be budgeted for. For exterior pieces the armature is designed to drain and ventilate, because internal condensation is what actually destroys sculpture from the inside.
Typical applications
Typical specifications
| Material | 304 or 316L stainless steel |
|---|---|
| Finish | Satin/brushed, grain direction agreed |
| Thickness | 1.5-4 mm over internal armature |
| Sizes | From 1 m to over 12 m tall |
| Capability | Sculpture Fabrication |
| Reference range | CNY 0+ per m² |
| Techniques in this capability | 14 |
| Coverage | Shanghai base, nationwide delivery, overseas projects on request |
Reference price bands for Brushed stainless sculpture
Indicative only, based on the scope normally quoted for brushed stainless sculpture. A firm price follows a site survey and an itemised quotation split into material, labour, finishing, packing and freight.
| Pricing basis | Priced per piece or per project rather than per square metre |
|---|---|
| Reference range | CNY 0+ per m² |
| How we quote | Itemised: material, labour, finishing, packing and freight shown as separate lines |
Build tiers for brushed stainless sculpture
Brushed stainless sculpture is not one product at one size: the table below is the same scope ladder we quote on, so you can see where your project sits before asking for a price.
| Build tier | Typical area | Production days | What changes at this tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 6–30 m² | 30–60 | Up to 30 m², one substrate and one access setup, 30–60 days in the workshop. |
| Tier 2 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 3 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 4 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 5 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 6 | 6–30 m² | 3–8 | 6 m² and above, multiple substrate types and phased access, 3–8 days with a join and numbering plan. |
What we deliver
- Concept sketches and a scaled maquette for sign-off
- Structural calculation and internal armature where required
- Fabrication, welding, surface finishing and protective coating
- Delivery, on-site assembly and foundation coordination
Faults we see most often in brushed stainless sculpture
Each of these is a field failure rather than a workshop one, and each is cheaper to prevent at enquiry stage than to correct after installation.
- Graining in inconsistent directions, which is invisible in a photograph and obvious in person.
- Leaving the armature sealed tight, so condensation collects inside and corrodes the structure within a few years.
- Under-specifying the plate gauge on a large piece, so the surface deflects visibly under wind loading.
What to settle before an overseas project starts
| Setting and climate | Coastal, urban or inland changes the alloy specification. Tell us where it will stand and how exposed it is. |
|---|---|
| Wind loading and engineering | For pieces over roughly four metres, tell us who is doing the structural design and what the site's wind criteria are. |
| Access for maintenance | Even a low-maintenance finish needs occasional cleaning. Confirm how the piece will be reached without scaffolding every time. |
Working with us from overseas
Enquiry to installation, one point of contact. Export packing, shipping, commercial terms and quality control →
Design intent and what drives the cost
| Technique | Brushed stainless sculpture |
|---|---|
| Positioning | Brushed stainless - quieter than mirror, and far more forgiving. |
| Floor area normally quoted | 6–30 m² per commission |
| Typical production window | 8–17 working days from approved drawings |
| Main cost drivers | Area and repetition; substrate preparation; detail and modelling time; surface finish; access and working hours |
| What we quote separately | Material, labour, finishing, packing, freight and site measures - each as its own line |
Representative work
Sculpture Fabrication projects photographed on completion.
Sculpture Fabrication — Cast bronze sculpture
Sculpture Fabrication — Mirror-polished stainless sculpture
Sculpture Fabrication — Animal & mascot sculpture
Sculpture Fabrication — Stone sculptureCommon questions
Can the finish be repaired if it is scratched?
Is brushed cheaper than mirror?
How long does a large sculpture take end to end?
Discuss brushed stainless sculpture
Send photographs, drawings or a 3D file with approximate dimensions. You will get a technique recommendation, a reference price band and a production schedule.
Other techniques in this capability
- Mirror-polished stainless sculpture
- Coloured stainless sculpture
- Perforated stainless sculpture
- Cast bronze sculpture
- Forged copper sculpture
- Stone sculpture
- FRP & resin sculpture
- Cement / GRC sculpture
- Figure sculpture
- Animal & mascot sculpture
- Abstract sculpture
- Landmark sculpture
- Garden & landscape sculpture