A Concise History of Bronzes

Fülszöveg

)OUt this BRONZÉ is an alloy that can be cast or hammered relatively a . easily, lasts for ever and acquires a béautifulgreeft patina with DOOK age. Since prehistoric times it has been used for domestic utensils and for örnaments, and it has always served as a médium for works of árt. The material - and the techniques irivolved in working with it - irfipose their own discipline, uniting through í:he centuries an ancient Saídinian figurine with Henry Moore's, Warrior with a Shield. George Savage therefore begins this book with a description of how bronzé is cast, explaining such techniques as cireperdue and ejectrotyping and showing how they have influenced the form of the objects themselves. In the main part of the book he relates the history of bronzework, ranging from the giant statue of Zeus in Athens to the eleventh-century doors of St MichaePs church, Hildesheim, and from the masterpieces of the Renaissance (such as Donatello's Gattewalata at Padua) to the works of Moore,... Tovább

Fülszöveg

)OUt this BRONZÉ is an alloy that can be cast or hammered relatively a . easily, lasts for ever and acquires a béautifulgreeft patina with DOOK age. Since prehistoric times it has been used for domestic utensils and for örnaments, and it has always served as a médium for works of árt. The material - and the techniques irivolved in working with it - irfipose their own discipline, uniting through í:he centuries an ancient Saídinian figurine with Henry Moore's, Warrior with a Shield. George Savage therefore begins this book with a description of how bronzé is cast, explaining such techniques as cireperdue and ejectrotyping and showing how they have influenced the form of the objects themselves. In the main part of the book he relates the history of bronzework, ranging from the giant statue of Zeus in Athens to the eleventh-century doors of St MichaePs church, Hildesheim, and from the masterpieces of the Renaissance (such as Donatello's Gattewalata at Padua) to the works of Moore, Picasso, Giacometti and other twentieth-century sculptors. Mr Savage alsó discusses more modest objects, from prehistoric horse harness to Rococo chandeliers. He pays special attention tó bronzes such as the collector may hope to acquire at auctioris or sales, providing much information which is of great practical value to the prospective buyer. The book is illustrated with a wide rangé of photógraphs in colour and black-and-white, showing the remarkable variety . of forms that man has been able to forge in this most adaptable of materials. George Savage is the author of many books on the decorative arts. He has visited most of the Euröpean and American museums of importance and a great many of the more important houses. He is a member of the Council of the British Antique Dealers' Association and is in active business in the art trade. His publications include A Concise History of Interior Decoration (in this series); 18 th Century English Porcélain; Porcelain through the Ages; The Antique Collectors' Handbook; The American Birds of Dorotby Doughty; Fakes, Forgeries and Keproductions; Chinese Jade, a Handbook for Collectors and The Selected Lptters of Josiah Wedgumd (editor, with Ann Finer). Since 1960 he has regularly contributed articles on the art markét to Studio International. Vissza