| It may be a surprise that bronze is the alloy of | | | | form. |
| choice for most cast metal sculptures. It has a | | | | Bronze use in sculpting and art has flourished ever |
| unique ability to expand when setting which allows | | | | since its invention, originally for warfare and |
| for a full and precise filling of a mold. Artists praise | | | | weapons. Many civilizations, including the ancient |
| the alloy for it's filling of even the most detailed | | | | Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Egyptians used |
| mold. Bronze alloys also are very robust and lack | | | | molds to create bronze sculptures. However, the |
| in ductility. These qualities are also very desirable | | | | Greeks were the first to create life size bronze |
| to artists. The tremendous strength allows for | | | | depictions. Very few Greek statues have |
| figures to be sculpted in action or in extended | | | | survived, although many Roman, Chinese and |
| poses rather than the somewhat dull marble and | | | | Egyptian pieces have been preserved and can be |
| ceramic sculptures which do not have the | | | | view throughout various museums in Europe and |
| strength of bronze. | | | | Asia. |
| The overall popularity of bronze has not helped in | | | | In fact, the ancient Chinese were the first to |
| the preservation of statues from ancient times, | | | | employ the lost wax method for casting bronze. |
| however. During different wars, most of the | | | | The Egyptians also made use of this process to |
| great statues of the past were stolen and melted | | | | create several tiny bronze figurines that have |
| down to created ammunition for soldiers. It is | | | | been preserved and are in museums. The |
| quite ironic that most bronze statues have been | | | | sculptures created by the ancient Chinese were |
| destroyed and most ceramic and marble pieces | | | | used to make elaborate decorations for tombs. |
| survived, although usually in parts or incomplete | | | | These decorations were also very well preserved. |