BRONZE CONSERVATION OF PUBLIC STATUES AND MONUMENTS
Public bronze sculpture occupies a unique position — exposed to weather, pollution, vandalism, and thousands of adoring hands every year, yet expected to remain beautiful and intact for generations. Conserving public sculpture requires a combination of technical expertise, specialist access equipment, and a deep understanding of patina and surface chemistry.
We work with contemporary and historic bronze sculpture. Historic monuments will develop their own patina over time and in this instance, bronze conservation is about keeping the surface in as good a condition as possible, and ensuring the rate of change remains slow.
Contemporary sculpture presents different challenges — unusual fabrication methods, light-coloured patinas that show every mark, and surface finishes that require bespoke bronze conservation solutions. Where possible, we involve the artist in the conservation process, ensuring that any work respects their original creative vision.
Our team holds PASMA and IPAF qualifications for working at height, and we manage all access logistics — including permits, traffic management, and specialist platforms — on behalf of our clients.
BRONZE CONSERVATION FOR BUILDINGS, FACADES AND ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
Architectural bronze — the doors, window surrounds, facades, and decorative fittings that give many cities’ most distinguished buildings their character — is under constant threat. Environmental pollution, cleaning products used by adjacent contractors, and ordinary wear and tear all take their toll. Most people do not realise how reactive bronze is: even water running off a dirty window can etch and permanently disfigure a bronze surface.
We work on listed and historic architectural bronze at every scale, from individual fittings to entire building facades. Our approach to bronze conservation is to present the bronze as well as possible by thorough cleaning, harmonisation of disfiguring marks, treatment of corrosion and reapplication of a traditional protective coating. We work with clients who want ongoing care of their building, year-round. Our value is in offering clients a careful, regular, coordinated approach to the care of their bronze. We are a client’s eyes when it comes to bronze – ensuring they are alerted to issues that might be damaging their bronze like holes in pigeon netting or pavement power-washing. We help them build a plan to prevent damage as well as tackle it.
We carry out bronze conservation for dozens of buildings in Central London. This approach is often the step before bronze maintenance – it brings the bronze on buildings up to a standard where they can be maintained. Once a maintenance contract is in place, we combine bronze conservation and restoration with maintenance to ensure that a standard the client is happy with is achieved can be provided all year round.
BRONZE CONSERVATION OF WAR MEMORIALS
War memorials carry a weight of meaning that goes beyond their material form. They should look cared for and be legible to those that wish to visit them. This can often be managed with a bronze conservation treatment. In this instance, we would not be undertaking restoration and returning the statue to resemble an earlier stage of its life, but removing a failed protective coating, or treating an area of the monument which is suffering from a dominant environmental factor. We are intervening to prevent the statue needing restoration.
We specialise in the maintenance, conservation and restoration of bronze war memorials working with local councils, parish councils, the Royal British Legion, and private custodians. Our work includes cleaning, the removal of graffiti and vandalism, the re-infilling of engraved lettering and corrosion treatment. Many memorials we work on have been neglected for decades — we guide our clients through the process of bringing them back to a condition that does justice to those they commemorate.
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BRONZE CONSERVATION CONSULTANCY AND EXPERT ADVICE
Sometimes what you need is not hands-on treatment but impartial, expert advice. Whether you are a council weighing up two different contractors’ proposals, a lawyer seeking an expert witness, or a museum planning the long-term care of a significant collection, an independent conservation opinion from an accredited specialist can be invaluable.
Lucy Branch MA ACR has over thirty years of experience in bronze conservation and holds accreditation with the Institute of Conservation (ICON). She trained at the Royal College of Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and University College London. Her consultancy is used by architects, facilities managers, galleries, foundries, sculptors, and legal professionals across the UK.
TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN BRONZE CONSERVATION
Understanding bronze is the first step in caring for it well. Our online course, Bronze Behaving Badly, covers the principles of bronze conservation and management for curators, asset managers, war memorial custodians, and anyone responsible for bronze in a professional context. Written and presented by Lucy Branch MA ACR, it covers the types of corrosion products you are likely to come across, patina, treatment methods, protective coatings, and conservation ethics.
There are also two books on bronze care: Bronze Behaving Badly: The Principles of Conservation for Bronze Objects for professional custodians, and Wax On, Wax Off: How to Care for Bronze Sculpture for private owners and collectors.
Lucy Branch also teaches the course live in person, periodically. Make contact to find out our next date.
