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THE HISTORY of BRONZE
Hard and Hardy History of Bronze
The development of bronze technology and its varied uses was important because, suddenly,
craftsmen were able to produce a metal that was very hard and could endure over time. Prior to
the discovery of bronze, the most widespread metal was copper – a lovely metal that was too
soft to hold up to aggressive use and quickly lost its honey-color sheen.
Bronze is an alloy, made from mixing copper, tin and a bit of lead or other metal. Throughout
bronze history the mix of copper and metals changed to meet the demands of the times. Even
though the percentage of tin is frequently small (70% to 97% copper to 25% to 3% of tin) the
addition changed the way that people, more than 5000 years ago, fought wars and lived their
daily lives. Bronze history is indeed, the story of civilization.
It had generally been accepted that bronze casting began in Greece, Egypt and China. More
recently, however, archaeologists discovered evidence of bronze making near Ban Chiang,
Thailand, as far back as 4500 B.C. – although there is a bit of professional controversy about this
date. Interestingly, this site lacked evidence of the production of any kind of bronze weapons –
an artifact hugely popular with other Bronze Age civilizations. Instead, the culture forged
bronze for special religious and funerary objects. This anachronism is one of many in the history
of bronze casting.
Later, in other developing Bronze Age cultures, people were discovering an array of applications
for bronze. It quickly became a favorite material for weapons – hard, nearly indestructible and,
most certainly, deadly to the enemy. These early artifacts were hammered, like copper had
been. In history, bronze took its place as a particularly lethal weapon.
Lost Wax Discovered
It was not until about 2000 B.C that the most enduring beauty of bronze was discovered by
artisans in China, who began using the lost-wax process to make items that were not only
strong, but also beautiful. This bronze process became an important element in the very
hierarchical structure of China’s first dynasty – the Xia, circa 2200 B.C. Mystery continues to
surround King Yu, founder of the dynasty, who is said to have ordered nine monumental food
“cauldrons” cast in bronze, to symbolize the nine provinces of his realm. But, even with
extensive excavation of the region’s historical Bronze Age archaeological sites, none of the
large castings has been unearthed. Dynasties that followed used bronze to cast ornate vessels
and goblets, affording bronze artisans an important status as their talents served the royal and
the elite. Bronze history was intertwined with privilege and royalty.
But it was not just the urban, complex societies of the ancient world that worked magic with
bronze in history. In the 15th century, craftsmen in Benin, in the southern portion of today’s
Nigeria, were producing bronze castings that were highly prized by the ruling elite of the
region. Scholars say that there is evidence of bronze casting as early as the 13th century.
Bronze work became so important in Benin that one ruler in the 15th century designated one-
half of the city to be the domain of bronze workers and artists, while the other half was
reserved for royalty. These workers not only made functional and religious objects, they also
created a series of bronze bas-reliefs that decorated the walls of the king’s palace. Bronze
history clearly crosses cultures and traverses time.
Centuries later, when Western colonizers swept across Benin, they were shocked – indeed, in
denial – that an African culture could have produced bronze works of such complexity and
beauty. It took many decades for these colonizers to recognize the authentic provenance of
the Benin bronzes which, today, retain their cache as master works of antiquity. Like humaity
itself, bronze history has deep roots in the continent of Africa.
The use of bronze in other parts of the ancient world became more ubiquitous – people began
cooking with bronze pots, wearing bronze jewelry, sewing bronze buttons onto clothing. Of
course, most of us identify bronze with the beautiful sculptures produced by the Greeks and
Romans - historical bronze sculptures that began a bronze tradition that continued long beyond
the Age that bears its name. Among the most memorable of these sculptures is Donatello’s
David, a spectacular nude that represents an apex in bronze artistry. The very enduring quality
of bronze earned its place in bronze history, art history and human history.
Art Arises from Bronze History
Although the Iron Age supplanted the Bronze Age for industrial uses, the value of bronze as a
medium for artistic creation has endured throughout the millennia. Names abound from the
Renaissance period and rise like a tide to the fabulous works of Rodin (1840 –1917) – perhaps the
world’s most familiar name in bronze. Who cannot conjure up an image of Rodin’s “The Thinker?”
There are few artists of acclaim who have not at least dabbled in bronze casting, including
Picasso, who produced several pieces that echoed his ground breaking style in painting that
itself, ushered in a new age in art. Many great artists honored the history of bronze by making
the magical metal part of their portfolio of memorable work.
The development of bronze technology and its varied uses was important because, suddenly,
craftsmen were able to produce a metal that was very hard and could endure over time. Prior to
the discovery of bronze, the most widespread metal was copper – a lovely metal that was too
soft to hold up to aggressive use and quickly lost its honey-color sheen.
Bronze is an alloy, made from mixing copper, tin and a bit of lead or other metal. Throughout
bronze history the mix of copper and metals changed to meet the demands of the times. Even
though the percentage of tin is frequently small (70% to 97% copper to 25% to 3% of tin) the
addition changed the way that people, more than 5000 years ago, fought wars and lived their
daily lives. Bronze history is indeed, the story of civilization.
It had generally been accepted that bronze casting began in Greece, Egypt and China. More
recently, however, archaeologists discovered evidence of bronze making near Ban Chiang,
Thailand, as far back as 4500 B.C. – although there is a bit of professional controversy about this
date. Interestingly, this site lacked evidence of the production of any kind of bronze weapons –
an artifact hugely popular with other Bronze Age civilizations. Instead, the culture forged
bronze for special religious and funerary objects. This anachronism is one of many in the history
of bronze casting.
Later, in other developing Bronze Age cultures, people were discovering an array of applications
for bronze. It quickly became a favorite material for weapons – hard, nearly indestructible and,
most certainly, deadly to the enemy. These early artifacts were hammered, like copper had
been. In history, bronze took its place as a particularly lethal weapon.
Lost Wax Discovered
It was not until about 2000 B.C that the most enduring beauty of bronze was discovered by
artisans in China, who began using the lost-wax process to make items that were not only
strong, but also beautiful. This bronze process became an important element in the very
hierarchical structure of China’s first dynasty – the Xia, circa 2200 B.C. Mystery continues to
surround King Yu, founder of the dynasty, who is said to have ordered nine monumental food
“cauldrons” cast in bronze, to symbolize the nine provinces of his realm. But, even with
extensive excavation of the region’s historical Bronze Age archaeological sites, none of the
large castings has been unearthed. Dynasties that followed used bronze to cast ornate vessels
and goblets, affording bronze artisans an important status as their talents served the royal and
the elite. Bronze history was intertwined with privilege and royalty.
But it was not just the urban, complex societies of the ancient world that worked magic with
bronze in history. In the 15th century, craftsmen in Benin, in the southern portion of today’s
Nigeria, were producing bronze castings that were highly prized by the ruling elite of the
region. Scholars say that there is evidence of bronze casting as early as the 13th century.
Bronze work became so important in Benin that one ruler in the 15th century designated one-
half of the city to be the domain of bronze workers and artists, while the other half was
reserved for royalty. These workers not only made functional and religious objects, they also
created a series of bronze bas-reliefs that decorated the walls of the king’s palace. Bronze
history clearly crosses cultures and traverses time.
Centuries later, when Western colonizers swept across Benin, they were shocked – indeed, in
denial – that an African culture could have produced bronze works of such complexity and
beauty. It took many decades for these colonizers to recognize the authentic provenance of
the Benin bronzes which, today, retain their cache as master works of antiquity. Like humaity
itself, bronze history has deep roots in the continent of Africa.
The use of bronze in other parts of the ancient world became more ubiquitous – people began
cooking with bronze pots, wearing bronze jewelry, sewing bronze buttons onto clothing. Of
course, most of us identify bronze with the beautiful sculptures produced by the Greeks and
Romans - historical bronze sculptures that began a bronze tradition that continued long beyond
the Age that bears its name. Among the most memorable of these sculptures is Donatello’s
David, a spectacular nude that represents an apex in bronze artistry. The very enduring quality
of bronze earned its place in bronze history, art history and human history.
Art Arises from Bronze History
Although the Iron Age supplanted the Bronze Age for industrial uses, the value of bronze as a
medium for artistic creation has endured throughout the millennia. Names abound from the
Renaissance period and rise like a tide to the fabulous works of Rodin (1840 –1917) – perhaps the
world’s most familiar name in bronze. Who cannot conjure up an image of Rodin’s “The Thinker?”
There are few artists of acclaim who have not at least dabbled in bronze casting, including
Picasso, who produced several pieces that echoed his ground breaking style in painting that
itself, ushered in a new age in art. Many great artists honored the history of bronze by making
the magical metal part of their portfolio of memorable work.
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Bronze was so important to the march of civilization that it became one
of four hallmarks of human technological evolution. The Bronze Age was
preceded by the Stone Age and followed by the Iron Age, the Industrial
Revolution and what may one day officially be known as the Digital Age.
Bronze history is elemental to human evolution.
of four hallmarks of human technological evolution. The Bronze Age was
preceded by the Stone Age and followed by the Iron Age, the Industrial
Revolution and what may one day officially be known as the Digital Age.
Bronze history is elemental to human evolution.
Bronze Process Survives the Test of Time
Much of the bronze process has remained unchanged throughout time –
certainly, the essential interaction of the alloy, the 2000-degree-plus
furnaces, the lost-wax process, the clamor of metal on metal and the deep
emotional connection of artist to the alchemy of bronze endures. Some of the
tools have changed - now the whir and whine of air-powered tools competes
with ancient echoes of chisels and hammers. But the molten river of fire-red
bronze still flows over time and change, and in the eyes of each artist
captured in its spell.
©Darby Patterson, 2008
Much of the bronze process has remained unchanged throughout time –
certainly, the essential interaction of the alloy, the 2000-degree-plus
furnaces, the lost-wax process, the clamor of metal on metal and the deep
emotional connection of artist to the alchemy of bronze endures. Some of the
tools have changed - now the whir and whine of air-powered tools competes
with ancient echoes of chisels and hammers. But the molten river of fire-red
bronze still flows over time and change, and in the eyes of each artist
captured in its spell.
©Darby Patterson, 2008
Csaba Latay positions a shell as bronze pours today in
much the same process it has for millennia.
much the same process it has for millennia.
This Chinese vessel was created
between 722 BC and 481 BC. It features
interlaced dragons.
between 722 BC and 481 BC. It features
interlaced dragons.
This vessel was cast in
Iran in the 7th century. It is
in the New York
Metropolitan Museum of
Art.
Iran in the 7th century. It is
in the New York
Metropolitan Museum of
Art.
One of the oldest surviving
classical Greek bronzes.
classical Greek bronzes.
Illustrations of ornate bronze
weapons that were made in Romania
are just part of bronze history
weapons that were made in Romania
are just part of bronze history