Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the containers made of?
- How are they made?
- Will the containers rust?
- How do you achieve the patinas?
- How do they weather outdoors?
- What happens if they don’t get waxed?
- What is the environmental footprint and working environment?
- Are there drainage holes?
- How long will I have to wait to get my planter?
- What will the Bronzino® copper containers look like over time?
- Tell me more about zinc.
- What are the containers made of?
- All Bronzino® containers are made by hand from solid sheets of copper or zinc, and finished by hand using traditional patinas.
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- How are they made?
- They are formed by hand, without moulds, in a traditional coppersmith’s workshop.
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- Will the containers rust?
- Unlike ferrous metals, such as cast iron, which rust then decay, copper builds up a protective layer through oxidisation. This is what gives patinated copper its special colour.
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- How do you achieve the patinas?
- We dip each planter into a chemical concoction to accelerate the oxidisation process and thereby create the patina. These concoctions can be centuries-old recipes handed down in families, and they vary from place to place. The precise colour of each patina can be affected by air humidity, so variations in each patina do occur.
- Tin plated copper is the same finish traditionally used on cooking containers and only needs cleaning with a non-abrasive cleaning agent, or even soapy water, to maintain its brightness.
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- How do they weather outdoors?
- All Bronzino® containers and vases are protected from the weather by several layers of natural wax. This is the traditional finish for copper and bronze placed outdoors. This initial protective layer seals the patina and prevents it from oxidising further. For the patina to remain unchanged, coats of soft beeswax should be applied at regular intervals. Twice a year should be sufficient though this can depend on weather conditions and the site chosen for the containers.
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- What happens if they don’t get waxed?
- The surface will take on a more natural and varied patina. This will vary according to weather conditions and the site chosen for the containers. Unwaxed containers in the grey finish will pick up the easily recognised blue of oxidised copper, while those in the bronze and green finishes are more likely to remain closer to the original. Natural unfinished copper will dim to a bronze / brown and then begin to collect blue or green around the edges.
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- What is the environmental footprint and working environment?
- Copper is a valuable metal with a high market cost, and has therefore always been saved and recycled as new sheet. Our containers will always retain the intrinsic value of the metal and as they do not decay will still be here in the future.
- The workshop is staffed by skilled craftsmen who are part of a team. They have spacious and well-ventilated workshops. There is a dining room where management and craftsmen sit down together for lunch and tea breaks each day. We at Bronzino® have regular meetings in the workshop with the staff and working conditions are monitored.
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- Are there drainage holes?
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Bronzino® containers and vases are supplied to order and therefore come with or without drainage holes. If drainage is required we drill the base with 5 holes and a solid copper plate 5mm thick is riveted underneath. This lifts the base off the ground to allow free drainage.
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- How long will I have to wait to get my planter?
- Delivery is 10 weeks from when we receive confirmation and your 50% deposit on the order. However, it’s always worth asking which designs we currently have in stock, but please note that this does vary. Samples or seconds are occasionally available at reduced prices.
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- What will the Bronzino® copper containers look like over time?
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When not protected by regular applications of wax the copper may well begin to further oxidise, colour change may occur.
Chart used with permission from the Copper Development Association.
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- Tell me more about Zinc.
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Zinc has been used in Europe as an architectural material for centuries. As a sheet metal it resists corrosion and is therefore a popular protective coating for iron and steel.
Zinc alloys actually absorb the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, locking it away in a protective surface layer of zinc carbonate, which gives the metal its distinctive blue-ish patina. In addition to carbon dioxide, zinc absorbs other pollutants, and locks them away into a surface patina with its own unique character. Zinc has the added benefit of ultra low toxicity. Runoff from zinc used outdoors is so low that it’s difficult to even detect.
Zinc is an essential mineral for humans, animals and plants. As a trace element, it is necessary for life and healthy functioning of the immune system. An anti-oxidant, its healing properties have been recognised since at least 300 BC, when it was used for healing wounds and sore eyes.
As with copper, over 80% of the zinc available for recycling is indeed recycled. It can be recycled indefinitely without loss of its physical or chemical properties.
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