Estimating the value and price of a bronze

If you own one or more bronzes, from any period, and would like to know their value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers can offer you their expert appraisal services.

Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your bronze, and provide you with a precise estimate of its current market value.

Then, if you want to sell your work, we'll point you in the right direction to get the best possible price for it.   

Rating and value of bronzes     

Bronzes are currently sought-after collector's items for many different types and craftsmanship. If you own one or more, they may be worth more than you think. On the art market, prices for these objects can be very high under the auctioneer's hammer.  

Their appraisal is also sometimes very complicated and subject to numerous rules. The value of your bronze can vary according to many factors, and it needs, for all the reasons listed below, to be entrusted to a specialist if it has a minimum value or if it falls within a precise field of specialization.

Buying bronzes at auction, whether antique or contemporary, offers many advantages for collectors and art lovers.

On the one hand, auctions offer the opportunity to acquire unique works of art, often steeped in history, which may come from different eras and artistic movements.

These works, sometimes otherwise inaccessible, are brought to light by experts who guarantee their authenticity and value. What's more, auctions enable buyers to discover rare pieces and build up a diversified collection at prices potentially lower than those on the traditional market.

Numerous bronzes are presented for sale every week at Drouot, throughout France, Europe and the rest of the world, enabling buyers to go to exhibitions to see the potential of the works, and choose which one will be their next purchase.

Buyers may bid for your bronze for a variety of reasons: love at first sight, collection, decorative needs, investment, etc. These are just some of the factors that will help your bronze to sell quickly once its appraisal has been completed.

Understanding the history and market of bronzes

On the art market, bronzes occupy a special place, particularly those dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when the industrial era made production more widespread and accessible.

These bronzes, often the result of traditional craftsmanship, can be worth far more than you might imagine, especially when they have passed under an auctioneer's hammer.

Their authenticity and rarity make them particularly prized by collectors. But the expertise of these pieces is often complex, requiring numerous verifications and in-depth knowledge of casting methods and workshop marks.

Although Renaissance bronzes can also appear on the market, those from the 17th century are rarer, while those from the 19th century are relatively common. They often depict mythological or historical subjects, reflecting an era fascinated by classical art.

Whether it's antiques or more contemporary pieces, the auction market enables art lovers to acquire unique works, often inaccessible otherwise.

Experts play a crucial role here, guaranteeing not only the authenticity of the bronzes but also their value, offering buyers the chance to build up a prestigious collection.

Acquiring bronzes via the auction market also offers the advantage of discovering rare pieces, sometimes at competitive prices compared to the traditional market.

Whether as an investment or a "coup de coeur", these works continue to appeal to a broad public, while maintaining an important place in the art market.

The most popular bronze sculptors

On the art market, bronzes occupy a central place, especially those produced during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

19th century bronzes

The 19th century was a period dominated by artists whose works are still very common today, such as Antoine-Louis Baryeknown for his realistic animal sculptures, or Pierre-Jules Mène, another great name in 19th-century animal sculpture.

Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuseand artists such as Jean-Baptiste Auguste Clésinger remained in the neoclassical artistic vein throughout the 19th century .

Following academic canons, and learning from the greatest, their period was characterized by a return to Antiquity, and all these artists drew inspiration from Renaissance sculptors who were already following the canons of Antique sculpture in their own time.

The 19th century was particularly marked by animal sculpture, which produced a large number of works. In addition to their decorative appeal, many works were commissioned for a higher purpose.

With the paintings of the same period, art became, more than ever, a means of propaganda. Napoleon had his imperial eagle, which he had sculpted on two occasions, while others insisted on equestrian portraits.

This was a century that saw many wars and some very important military figures (Marshal Ney, Marshal Liautey, General Bertrand, Talleyrand...), who commissioned equestrian portraits to establish their legitimacy.

To pay tribute to their warlords, the various regimes also commissioned equestrian portraits, often monuments placed in gardens or squares, as well as funerary monuments.

It was also the occasion for other experiments, such as the draping work of artists like Agathon Léonard, which continued into the 20th century.

Bronzes in the 20th century

The early twentieth century saw the emergence of the Art Deco movement, notably at Demetre Chiparusfamous for his elegant sculptures, also one of the most popular artists at auction.

However, it should be noted that, in Chiparus' case, the market is often flooded with copies, making the authenticity of his works more complex to establish.

At the turn of the century, the Art Deco movement was a goldmine for sculptors, who saw their practice evolve towards new subjects. Women, and dancers in particular, were once again at the heart of iconographic programs.

In addition to Chiparus's works, this is largely the case with Edgar Degas, who didn't hesitate to mix pieces of fabric with bronze at the beginning of the 20th century.

Lesser-known Art Deco figures such as Georges Le Bourgeois explored new aesthetics, often influenced by the social and cultural upheavals of the time.

Rarer bronzes by modernist or avant-garde artists bear witness to the evolution of this practice over the centuries.

Sculptors such as Diego Giacomettiwith his slender, emaciated figures, or François-Xavier Lalannemaster of surrealist animal sculpture, are examples of artists whose works are becoming rarer and more precious.

Camille Claudelwhose bronzes convey a unique sensitivity, and Rembrandt Bugatti, famous for his expressive animal sculptures, are also among the most sought-after artists.

Also on the market are pieces by the great names of surrealism, such as Salvador Dalíand works by Alfred Boucher and Césaremblematic figures of the 20th century. 

While works by these artists are still relatively present on the market, those by Rodin, Camille Claudel and Giacometti, for example, are selling at exceptional prices, testifying to the rarity and value attributed to them by the art market.

Whether old or more contemporary bronzes, these sculptures continue to fascinate collectors, enthusiasts and investors alike, while reflecting the evolution of artistic currents from the 19th to the 20th century.

How can you tell a genuine bronze sculpture from an overmould?

Recognizing a genuine bronze sculpture from an overmolding may seem complicated, but a few clues can help. Overmolding first appeared at the end of the 19th century, a period marked by industrialization.

In those days, some foundrymen kept the molds of the works, allowing sculptures to be produced after the artist's death, or even without his consent.

One of the first signs to look for is the signature. On an authentic bronze, the artist's signature is precisely engraved into the material. Overmolding, on the other hand, is often more blurred, sketched rather than engraved.

The appearance of the sculpture's underside is also revealing: overmoldings often have sloppy finishes, whereas original bronzes are meticulously crafted down to the smallest detail.

Authentic bronzes are often numbered in limited editions, usually 7 or 8. You can also look for a founder's stamp, a guarantee of quality and authenticity.

Last but not least, "cire perdue" is a good indicator: this artisanal process, used to create original bronzes, guarantees a unique piece that is far more precious than industrial reproductions.

Cire perdue is a casting technique that consists in modeling a metal sculpture from a wax model, which is eliminated by heating during the process, which consists in wrapping the model in a refractory material so that the bronze takes the place of the wax.

The wax sculpture is placed on "jets", cone-shaped elements that act as funnels. Filaments called "vents" act as conduits for materials and air, and are also made of wax.

The wax leaves a hollow when evacuated, which is then filled by the jets. As both elements are also made of wax, this ensures optimum distribution of the metal, as well as complete evacuation of the air.

The mold is then chemically or mechanically destroyed to recover the final bronze specimen.

Lost-wax casting is a precision process used to produce one-off works, and differs from wax modeling, which is used to produce mass-produced works.

It is therefore essential to ensure that all these elements are present when estimating the value of your bronze. However, only a specialist can tell you whether your bronze is an original casting, an overmolding or a complete copy.

Here are two examples (top overmolding, bottom original molding):

Know the value of your bronze

If you happen to own one or more bronzes, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using the form on our website.

A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your work, as well as any relevant information about it.

If you're thinking of selling your work of art, our specialists will also be on hand to help you find alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking market trends into account.