I was told foundry marks are unimportant on pieces when the artist is still alive. Is this true? Obviously, many copies and recasts exist. This is why Russell's and Remington's are available on eBay for little or nothing. Resins are sometimes used with shavings of bronze to create "bronzes" or recasts today. How does one tell if the statue is spelter, polychrome or solid bronze besides weight or scratching the base? Why is the patina so different among bronzes? Some are nearly black while others show a rich bronze gold color and others have a greenish tint. How do the experts tell if a bronze is the real deal? Are there any simple rules to follow? Is there anything that is a real tip-off something is not as it should be? Any help would be appreciated!
