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Sculpture/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Restoring cracks in teracotta sculpture | 1/18/2012 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: I've got a statue made of teracotta and it has split in the base. Also, on its back there is a piece ... A: There are a variety of substances that you can use to fill cracks like that. I like to use "Apoxie ... | ||
| Elephant Antique from India | 11/19/2011 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: the interior appears to be a black hard structure. Thanks very much. A: The piece was most likely cast using the lost wax process. The black material inside the piece is ... | ||
| Remmington Cheyeen - Missing Whip/Strap | 11/11/2011 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: I recently purchased a Remington "Cheyenne" sculpture approx 21" high. It was missing the whip/strap ... A: Yes, we can reproduce your whip for you. We just require some images of the piece (to match patina) ... | ||
| Bronco Buster | 10/29/2011 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: I also have a 45" Bronco Buster bronze casting. Was there some of the original castings that did ... A: You are correct to consider the fact that there is no additional marble or wood base on an original ... | ||
| Care/Maintenance of Silicon Bronze Panels | 10/14/2011 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: What is the proper way to care for silicon bronze panels? A: Well, it all depends on how the panels were sealed initially, and what you mean by "care for". If ... | ||
| Frederic Remington Mountain Man Number 1 | 9/6/2011 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: My name is Natalie. My family and I got a Frederic Remington Mountain Man Number 1. We do not know ... A: The locations of most of the original Remington pieces are known, so based on that fact alone, the ... | ||
| cleaning metal | 9/2/2011 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: I have a Loetz vase with a removable metal brim and handles. It is bronze or brass. The inside of ... A: It sounds like you have a heavily oxidized piece of brass, or one that has had a patina applied to ... | ||
| Bronze Casting | 7/21/2011 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: I am currently casting bronze at 85% Copper, 5% Tin, 5% Zinc and 5% Lead. I would like to try and ... A: Richard... I do not make my own alloy. I use everdur exclusively, so I am familiar with the ... | ||
| decontaminating victory brown wax | 6/25/2011 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: Do you have any recommendations on how to take used wax and clean it of impurities? I have a ... A: We have found that foreign particles that find their way into our reclaim wax will settle to the ... | ||
| Alfred Barye Bronze | 6/2/2011 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: I have a A. BARYE (Alfred) Bronze finished pointer dog sculpture with what looks like foundry ... A: It sounds like the piece was most likely electroplated bronze. Usually electroplated pieces are ... | ||
| joining pieces together | 4/15/2011 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: The charge is a grapevine like railing. Material: various sizes of Everdur (CDA 873). Using a MIG ... A: You'd want to use something like this depending on your needs: Silicon Bronze ERCuSi-A .030 - .045 ... | ||
| Casting a crustacean | 4/14/2011 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: I have a friend who wants to cast a lobster as jewelery, since she doesn't want it to be extremely ... A: I couldn't tell you if the shell would burn out or not. I would expect it to, but I couldn't be ... | ||
| vanguard studios inc 1969 | 2/28/2011 | maura macaluso |
| Q: I want to purchase a varathane sculpture of 4 horse side profiles. The piece is 4 ft by 19" and 9" ... A: I am not an appraiser but generally art is worth what you are willing to pay for it. I can't put a ... | ||
| Old wood carved figure | 2/24/2011 | maura macaluso |
| Q: I have a wood carving that looks extremely old. It looks to depict a man with long hair smoking a ... A: I am not an appraiser, but rather a woodcarving instructor and accomplished woodcarver, However, I ... | ||
| Remington Bronze | 2/11/2011 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: We have a Remington Bronze 20' by 21 "Cheyenne". On the back is stamped "Dedicated to Benjamin ... A: Honestly, I really cannot say... my area of expertise is really about the technical aspects of ... | ||
| bronze statue repair | 2/10/2011 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: Are you able to recommend a foundry known to do quality bronze repair work in the northeast Ohio ... A: I cannot recommend any fine art foundry in Ohio... I just do not have any experience with anyone ... | ||
| Clay as a medium in Sculpture | 2/9/2011 | maura macaluso |
| Q: What explains clay as finite medium in sculpture and an intermediate medium for sculpture works? A: I'm not certain of my understanding of your question. a completed sculpture can be wholly produced ... | ||
| Re: Two Hand-carved Cherubs | 1/27/2011 | maura macaluso |
| Q: I have no idea who carved these two whimsical cherubs, how old they may be and what type of wood was ... A: I get lots of requests of this type and mostly I am of no help and clearly state that I am not an ... | ||
| Alfred Barye | 1/10/2011 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: I have an aluminum Lion about 14 inch by 11 on a plaster base initals ALF BAYER any ideas as to the ... A: The damage can be repaired. You would need to find someone with experience welding and working ... | ||
| Moulds for bronze casting | 12/16/2010 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: I'm interested in casting some bronze bells from wax originals. I'm just trying to find out what ... A: Since you are working with wax patterns, the best choice would be ceramic shell. Ceramic shell is ... | ||
| Vanderveen crane | 11/20/2010 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: Matt, I have a Loet Vanderveen bronze crane (set on a clear pedestal) which broke, of course at the ... A: They can definitely be repaired. The question is to the cost. I would normally offer the service, ... | ||
| Bust/Sculpture | 11/7/2010 | maura macaluso |
| Q: Found this fellow about 7 years ago and have tried unsuccessfully to get information re: origin, ... A: It is difficult when the item is not in front of me. I am not able to find any info for a maker nor ... | ||
| small statue | 11/6/2010 | maura macaluso |
| Q: hey i own a towing company and i get junk cars all the time with junk left in them, well i was ... A: certainly send me some pics. Be forewarned, I am a serious woodcarver and instructor with many years ... | ||
| cast bronze drum shell | 10/31/2010 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: I have a very valuable snare drum made from Zildjian cymbal company's bronze alloy. I think it is ... A: I don't know any foundries that pour 80/20 anymore. The standard alloy for fine art bronze casting ... | ||
| Duane Scott bronze sculpture | 10/7/2010 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: My father is trying to estimate the value of a few pieces for estate planning and we have a table ... A: The best I can do for you is to direct you to Duane Scott's company. Other then that you can try ... | ||
| CM Russell Bronze | 10/3/2010 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: I just picked up a CM Russell "The bronco Twister" at an estate auction. It is signed CM Russell ... A: The best way to clean a bronze is to use mild soap and water. Dish detergent would be fine, but you ... | ||
| Question on Wood Carving | 8/18/2010 | maura macaluso |
| Q: I have acquired a wood carved head bust with an interesting and quite beautiful bi-colored wood I ... A: you can send photos to me at linehan718@aol.com be warned, with over 10,000 carvable species of ... | ||
| Question on Wood Carving | 8/17/2010 | maura macaluso |
| Q: I have acquired a wood carved head bust with an interesting and quite beautiful bi-colored wood I ... A: I am not an appraiser so I cannot give you most of the info you are looking for. I am a woodcarver. ... | ||
| "La Tortuga: damaged | 6/25/2010 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: Mr. Ramieri. I own the sculpture "La Tortuga" form Townsend. It was dropped during shipping and the ... A: This is your second inquiry with this question...I responded to your previous inquiry in detail, but ... | ||
| Restore bronze casting | 6/24/2010 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: I am looking to restore the finish of a bronze casted base to a flagpole that has 80+ years of ... A: If I had my way without restriction, I would use a low grit aluminum oxide to blast the piece. That ... | ||
| reproducing a sculpture | 5/27/2010 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: Matt. I've been looking for a reproduction of a particular piece (ancient Egyptian, so copyright ... A: There are many companies that can scan and reproduce the statue. If you want it reproduced exactly, ... | ||
| Waterbased clay for bronze | 5/4/2010 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: I would love to get back into sculpting and casting in bronze but have a severe sensitivity to ... A: Water based clay is not the best choice for bronze casting. Unless it is fired, it can make the ... | ||
| Oceanic or Caribbean Wood Carving? | 4/8/2010 | maura macaluso |
| Q: I have been trying to research the origin, age, etc. of this wood carving with no luck, and hoping ... A: Hanna, I still think its a species of mahogany, there are many types of mahogany which are different ... | ||
| Oceanic or Caribbean Wood Carving? | 4/5/2010 | maura macaluso |
| Q: I have been trying to research the origin, age, etc. of this wood carving with no luck, and hoping ... A: Sorry for the delay, I was celebrating a holiday with Family yesterday. As to your carving- It is ... | ||
| The Broncho Buster | 4/1/2010 | maura macaluso |
| Q: who do I ask to find out how much this bronze or brass sculpture is worth. We purchased this at a ... A: I am not an art appraiser and I suggest you find one near you. Any art museum should be able to ... | ||
| Remington Broncho Buster | 3/16/2010 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: I have a Frederic Remington "Broncho Buster" bronze statue. It weighs 200-300lbs. It is approx. 45" ... A: When trying to determine the authenticity of a Remington sculpture that you have purchased, the ... | ||
| bronze casting | 3/11/2010 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: I hope you can help me out. I made a plaster cast, using medical plaster coated strips, of the front ... A: You could make the replica with latex or another type of rubber, but then you will have to provide ... | ||
| aluminum | 3/2/2010 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: I have two questions. I am trying to straighten the wall of a cast aluminum sculpture by hammering ... A: You certainly can heat the aluminum first. Heat typically will assist with most attempts to shape ... | ||
| spray wax | 2/23/2010 | Matt Ramieri |
| Q: For a sculpture (wax, with styrofoam/cloth/wood armature) destined for lost wax bronze casting can I ... A: I have never used or heard of any kind of spray wax formulated specifically for the lost wax ... | ||
| Timber Root Sculpture | 2/11/2010 | maura macaluso |
| Q: I am a Malaysian.I have started Sculpture 3 years ago digging timber roots and turn them into ... A: I am not familiar with your woods in Malaysia but I think that you have answered your own question. ... | ||
Matt Ramieri
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer questions in reference to bronze casting (the lost wax process & copper alloys) & finishing. I can also answer questions about sculpture in general including: armature building, clay construction (plastalines and oil-based clays), fabrication, TIG arc welding (including aluminum), metal chasing and finishing, patination, and wax sculpture construction (including modeling waxes, casting waxes, and sprue waxes). I also have a limited knowledge of copyright law as it pertains to the fine art maker and his/her work. I do not claim to have any particular knowledge in the fields of bronze art antiquities and their values, or the value of work created by specific artists or their processes.
Experience
I have been working with bronze for over a decade and a half. I studied the lost wax process in college, went on to study the art abroad in Cortona Italy, and continued as an apprentice at the Johnson Atelier in Trenton, NJ. My love for the medium carried me on to take it up professionally. Now, I produce my bronze work and the work of others with my own company: "Inspired Bronze Inc".
Organizations
Inspired Bronze,
Fine Art America
Education/Credentials
Graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor degree of Fine Arts (BFA) from the University of Hartford Art School
University of Georgia Studies Abroad Program graduate: Cortona, Italy
Johnson Atelier School of Sculpture apprentice program graduate: 1st Class Apprentice
Awards and Honors
Charles Salsbury Award (artistic excellence)
"Mostra" exhibit-Cortona, Italy,
Orlando Museum of Art-1st Thursdays exhibit,
exhibited in AIDS benefit show ‘97, '98,
3rd place in ArtWorks Gallery juried exhibiton ‘99,
University of Hartford Grant recipient for four years
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