Copper sculpture is a very old art form and, in the Americas, can be found in the Purepecha Indians of Central Mexico. The first copper formation was made to create agricultural and domestic tools and weapons, hammering copper ingots.
Modern copper sculptures are created using very advanced techniques and technologies since the beginning of the art form. Although many technologies can be used, the most common and popular is to create a sculpture by forming separate pieces of copper and joining them together. This allows the sculptor to produce a piece of the size he wants.
The process begins with the formation of copper sheets in bowl shapes. This allows the sculptor to heat the shapes and hammer them into the approximate desired shape. If gaps appear in the metal during the forming process, they will be filled with welding rods. The artist usually works with a paper arrangement to guide him through the initial foliage cutting process and also in the formation. Most artists who make copper sculptures do not use very detailed sketches, but rather old-fashioned freehand drawings.
The individual parts are processed until they have their final shape. Each reissue after welding can damage the welds. All surface irregularities are removed with a hammer by an exclusive movement that allows to increase or decrease the indentations on the surface.
Before welding begins, the final finish is applied to the individual parts. The color options are chocolate brown, read on wine, with black stripes and the standard shiny polished finish. As the finish is given individually to the forge, the final patinas will always have small variations. If so desired, the artist can remove the natural patina by polishing and leaving the shiny surface behind. A sinister copper sculpture with a shiny finish will require regular polishing to preserve the shine.
The artist can add a silver decoration to the copper sculpture, copper etching a design on the surface of the pieces formed and immersing them in an electrically charged bath that fuses the two metals. Copper sculptures usually receive a transparent lace finish to protect the metal from the elements.
When all parts are complete in every detail, the welding process will begin. In the case of copper, this usually occurs through a process called rod welding, in which a filling rod is heated with tungsten gas to hold the parts in place.
The copper sculpture is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Copper is a favorite material of artists specializing in modern or abstract art. Except in the case of sculptures with a polished finish, a copper sculpture requires no care other than simple dust cleaning or cleaning with a damp cloth. The use of cleaning agents is not recommended, as they can affect the end of the metal.