Sunday, August 8, 2010

Term for the Day: Spelter

Also known as “French Bronze,” spelter is a white alloy largely comprised of zinc and copper. Spelter was used as a substitute for heavier bronze in casting artifacts of the Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries. Whereas with the casting of works of art in bronze utilizing sand or lost-wax casting, moulds for spelter casting were able to be permanently preserved. Spelter was used in the casting of a variety of ornaments from sculpture to works of the decorative arts including teapots and desk sets.

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