BRONZE PLAQUE RESTORATION
RESTORE CLARITY TO HISTORY
Once the legibility of a bronze plaque becomes compromised, professional bronze plaque restoration is necessary so that these features can fulfill their purpose to inform and commemorate important historic events. Regular bronze plaque maintenance can prevent deterioration, but when damage has already occurred, comprehensive restoration returns these historical markers to their original clarity.
Damage requiring bronze plaque restoration can arise from various factors including inadequate bronze plaque maintenance, harsh environmental exposure, vandalism, or accidental damage. Our specialized restoration techniques address all types of deterioration, from simple bronze plaque cleaning to complete restoration of severely damaged markers.
We can usually carry out the restoration of your bronze memorial plaques in situ so that the public can continue to visit while works are carried out and don’t arrive only to be disappointed by their absence. Our long history of working alongside the public means that we understand how important these features are to people.
While bronze plaque restoration is our specialty, our services extend to surrounding materials as well. We can safely clean adjacent stone, granite and other materials, with the guarantee that our restoration and cleaning processes will not damage these surfaces.
THE VALUE OF BRONZE PLAQUE RESTORATION
Our team have the skills to perform detailed bronze plaque cleaning, maintenance and restoration, which can be enhanced with specialist art skills such as infilling and gold leaf work.
There are many different types of lettering which can be found on bronze plaques. They can be engraved, etched, or raised. Lettering can be gilded, polished, satin-finished, infilled or enamelled. While we cannot re-enamel plaques, our bronze plaque restoration services can help restore or improve lettering of all other types. Lettering should work in contrast to the background bronze and significantly improve the plaque’s legibility—a primary goal of good restoration.
Bronze plaques need careful cleaning and ongoing bronze maintenance. Commercial cleaning products can strip corrosion from bronze, but they can also remove the intended finish too. It is easy to damage the patina accidentally with improper cleaning techniques, which is why trained and experienced care is worth the investment. We frequently receive calls for bronze plaque restoration after well-intentioned cleaning attempts have caused unnecessary damage.
As plaques are often mounted on walls, water courses down them vertically – this makes them particularly vulnerable to corrosion. Without proper bronze maintenance and protection, these corrosion products can migrate into surrounding materials like stone. Once copper staining occurs, it is difficult to remove and can even be permanent—another reason why professional bronze plaque cleaning and restoration is essential from the start.
Corrosion disfiguring the surface of this plaque at Hampton Court Palace
Bronze memorial plaque after restoration
LONG TERM MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS
After completing bronze plaque restoration, we recommend implementing a regular bronze plaque maintenance schedule. Preventative maintenance is far more cost-effective than major restoration and helps preserve historical integrity. Our maintenance programs can be tailored to your specific needs, whether for a single bronze plaque or an entire collection of historical markers.
Our bronze plaque restoration and cleaning processes combine traditional craftsmanship with modern conservation techniques to ensure your historical markers remain legible and beautiful for decades to come. We understand that each bronze plaque tells a unique story, and our approach encompasses cleaning, careful restoration, and preventative conservation to preserve both the physical object and its historical significance for generations to come.
Bronze War Memorial Plaque, Madingley Parish Church, Cambridge. Before Plaque Restoration
Bronze War Memorial Plaque After Restoration
