Forged copper sculpture
Forged and fabricated copper - sheet metal shaped by hand and hammer.
- 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)
Forged copper is worked from sheet, so the piece is lighter and more economical than cast bronze while keeping the warmth and living patina of the metal. Hammer marks and joint lines are part of the language rather than defects.
Commissioned work in forged copper sculpture normally runs from 6 to 30 m², with 8–20 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 forged copper sculpture is the right answer - and when it is not
Forged and fabricated metalwork is chosen when a piece should read as made - hammer marks, forged tapers, visible joints - rather than as cast. It suits gates, screens, railings, sculptural frameworks and architectural metalwork where craft is part of the intent, and it is often stronger and lighter than an equivalent casting. It is not the right method where the form is complex and organic, which casting handles far better.
How the work is actually carried out
The design is worked out as a series of forgings and joints, because a fabricated piece is assembled rather than poured, and the joint positions shape the composition. Metal is heated and worked to form the elements, then assembled with the joints designed as part of the aesthetic rather than hidden. Surfaces are finished consistently - brushed, burnished or left with forge scale - and the piece is protected against the exposure it will see. Fittings are designed with their mechanism, since a gate has to work as well as look right.
Typical applications
Typical specifications
| Material | Copper, brass or bronze sheet, 1-3 mm |
|---|---|
| Process | Hand raising, hammering, welding and patination |
| Finish | Polished, brushed, patinated or lacquered |
| Sizes | From 0.3 m to 5 m |
| 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 Forged copper sculpture
Indicative only, based on the scope normally quoted for forged copper 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 forged copper sculpture
Forged copper 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 | 40–90 | Up to 30 m², one substrate and one access setup, 40–90 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 | 6–30 m² across two or more faces, 3–8 days, substrate build-up agreed per location. |
| Tier 7 | 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 forged copper 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.
- Hiding joints that would read better as part of the design, producing a piece that looks uncertain rather than made.
- Mixing finished and unfinished surfaces inconsistently, which reads as incomplete rather than as contrast.
- Designing a moving element without coordinating the hinges and mechanism at design stage, which produces a beautiful piece that does not close.
What to settle before an overseas project starts
| Fixed or moving | Tell us if the piece operates - a gate, a screen, a shutter. Mechanisms must be coordinated from the start, and they constrain the design. |
|---|---|
| Finish intent | Burnished, brushed, waxed or left with scale are all valid and all look different. Send a reference of what you have in mind. |
| Corrosion exposure | Exterior metalwork needs a considered protection strategy. Tell us the location and the cleaning regime available. |
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 | Forged copper sculpture |
|---|---|
| Positioning | Forged and fabricated copper - sheet metal shaped by hand and hammer. |
| Floor area normally quoted | 6–30 m² per commission |
| Typical production window | 8–20 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
What is the difference from cast bronze?
Does copper need maintenance?
How long does a large sculpture take end to end?
Discuss forged copper 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
- Brushed stainless sculpture
- Coloured stainless sculpture
- Perforated stainless sculpture
- Cast bronze sculpture
- Stone sculpture
- FRP & resin sculpture
- Cement / GRC sculpture
- Figure sculpture
- Animal & mascot sculpture
- Abstract sculpture
- Landmark sculpture
- Garden & landscape sculpture