Bronze Sculpture
Selling Bronze Sculpture in Southern California
I Buy It buys signed bronze sculpture, bronze lamps and lighting, Western and animalier bronzes, and foundry-marked casts. The single biggest factor in value is the combination of a clear artist signature and a recognized foundry mark. Together they establish attribution and casting quality, which drive price far more than subject alone.
What we buy
- Signed bronze sculpture
- Bronze lamps and lighting
- Western and animalier bronzes
- Foundry-marked casts
Past results include a Buffalo Studios bronze table lamp, sold for $30,000 in 2026, and a Buffalo Studios bronze and leaded glass floor lamp, sold for $22,500 in 2026. See recent results.
How to tell if it’s valuable
- It carries both a clear artist signature and a recognized foundry mark.
- It is an original cast with a foundry stamp, an edition number if applicable, and good original patina. Later casts and “after” pieces trade far lower.
- It is a bronze lamp with maker identification and its original glass or shade. Buffalo Studios and similar named makers are sought after.
- The patina is original and has not been polished or stripped.
How to identify it
- Artist signature. Look along the base edge or worked into the composition. Original signatures are incised by hand.
- Foundry mark. Check the bottom of the base, the rim, or an applied plaque. Look for a workshop name, a city, or “cire perdue.”
- Edition number. Usually on the base. Numbered casts are more readily attributed than open editions.
- Lamps. Check the base for a maker stamp and a model number, and confirm whether the shade or glass is original.
- Material check. Bronze is heavy and non-magnetic. A magnet test and the weight help separate bronze from spelter or plated figures.
What usually isn’t valuable
- Unmarked decorative bronzes and modern “after” casts. These carry little premium over the metal.
- Heavily polished or stripped pieces. Original patina is preferred.
- Spelter or plated figures sold as bronze. Weight and a magnet test will usually reveal them.
How to photograph it for an evaluation
- Full piece from several angles
- Close-up of any signature
- Close-up of the foundry mark or stamp
- The bottom of the base, shot clearly
- Any edition number
- For lamps: the shade or glass, and the base stamp
- Overall condition and patina, including any damage
Common questions
How do I tell if it’s real bronze?
Bronze is heavy and not magnetic. A magnet test plus the weight helps separate bronze from spelter or plated figures.
Where is the foundry mark?
Most often stamped on the bottom of the base, on the rim, or on an applied plaque. Look for a workshop name, a city, or the phrase “cire perdue.”
Should I polish it before selling?
No. Original patina is preferred, and polishing or stripping reduces value. Send it as it is.
My bronze is signed but has no foundry mark. Does that matter?
A recognized foundry mark strengthens attribution and casting quality. Send photos of the signature and the full base and we’ll tell you what we see.
Do you buy bronze lamps that don’t work?
Yes. Send photos of the base stamp, the shade or glass, and the overall condition.
Send photos through the form on our site, by email, or by text. We respond within 24 hours. We serve Southern California: Orange County, Los Angeles County, San Diego County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County.
Have a bronze?
Send photos of the piece, the signature, and the base.