Cast bronze sculpture
Cast bronze - the material for pieces intended to last a century.
- 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)
Lost-wax and sand casting produce bronze with fine detail, real weight and a patina that deepens over decades. It is expensive and slow, and chosen when permanence and prestige matter more than budget or speed.
Commissioned work in cast bronze sculpture normally runs from 6 to 30 m², with 9–24 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 cast bronze sculpture is the right answer - and when it is not
Cast bronze is chosen where permanence and prestige matter and where the piece will be touched, weathered and expected to improve with age. It suits memorials, civic art, plaques, sculptural figures and anything expected to last generations. It is a serious commitment in cost and weight, so it makes sense where the piece is genuinely permanent. For temporary or lightweight work there are far more economical answers.
How the work is actually carried out
The original is modelled in clay or produced digitally and then printed, and a mould is taken from it. Lost-wax casting reproduces detail with a fidelity no other method matches, and complex pieces are cast in sections and welded together. The patina is applied chemically and controlled by hand, which is why two castings of the same model can look quite different. Wax is applied as a protective layer, and the piece is designed with drainage and fixing points that will not stain the stone beneath it.
Typical applications
Typical specifications
| Process | Lost-wax or sand casting, welded and chased |
|---|---|
| Wall thickness | Typically 4-8 mm cast shell over internal armature |
| Patina | Hot-applied chemical patina, waxed or lacquered |
| Lead time | 8 weeks to several months |
| 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 Cast bronze sculpture
Indicative only, based on the scope normally quoted for cast bronze 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 cast bronze sculpture
Cast bronze 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 | 45–120 | Up to 30 m², one substrate and one access setup, 45–120 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 cast bronze 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.
- Specifying bronze for a piece that will be replaced or relocated within a few years, where the material's cost buys nothing.
- Sealing a bronze against weathering so completely that it cannot develop the patina the client actually wanted.
- Forgetting the fixing and drainage design, so run-off stains the plinth or the paving below the piece.
What to settle before an overseas project starts
| Permanence and patina | Tell us whether the bronze should stay uniform or be allowed to weather. These are different specifications and they diverge over years. |
|---|---|
| Weight and foundation | Bronze is heavy. Confirm the foundation design and who is providing it, because the sculpture cannot be designed in isolation. |
| Security and fixing | For public pieces, tell us the theft risk so the fixing and the anchoring can be designed accordingly. |
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 | Cast bronze sculpture |
|---|---|
| Positioning | Cast bronze - the material for pieces intended to last a century. |
| Floor area normally quoted | 6–30 m² per commission |
| Typical production window | 9–24 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
Will the patina change over time?
How do you keep the weight manageable?
How long does a large sculpture take end to end?
Discuss cast bronze 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
- Forged copper sculpture
- Stone sculpture
- FRP & resin sculpture
- Cement / GRC sculpture
- Figure sculpture
- Animal & mascot sculpture
- Abstract sculpture
- Landmark sculpture
- Garden & landscape sculpture