quality chinese foundry

[jane peach]

Does anyone know of a foundry in china that produces good quality finished bronze casts in small editions?

[CroftonGraphics]

Does anyone know about if you use Chinese foundries,
if the international copyright is adhered to?

[The Forge]

When they cast your sculpture, they cast two and they send the second one to the factory across the street to be reproduced in hundreds. ;)

[racine]

the quality level can be low, depends on the foundry. i have heard better things of one in malaysia but cannot confirm, ask Merlion. whatever theres a general rule in china, they often will offer to do it at double the price they will take, ..shipping editions can come under import tariffs....for US i think its 8 copies.
i did a comparative test with a local [chinese] foundry and a uk one. ..for a friends public commission, a british artist he went for the scottish foundry choice because of high quality, control, guaranteed silicon bronze and little more cost that included delivery and erection, in all a great deal better.
the chinese foundry was old fashioned[practically archaic] lower quality, poor metalurgy [more of a scrap brass than bronze] with the hazards of shipping and extra taxes and late arrival. the difference in cost was minor.
why cant u find local help?

[jane peach]

There seems to be some backlash to having art work made in china.I live in stoke-on-trent, england, an area that used to be known as the potteries .. royal doulton, wedgewood etc. We had generations working in the industry .. my grandmother and great grandmother both worked in the industry. Since the grand plan ..globalisation ... the industry has been wiped out. Only empty shells remain ..as working museums ..so that management can still use the name on their imported product . The cost prices, for ceramics from china .. totally finished, complete with box and delivery are less than I pay for the raw materials in the uk.(based on the amounts ordered) As I have found out ..the same holds true for bronze. How do you compete with people who are already having sculptures produced in china?

[GlennT]

I try to support my local economy. I am fortunate to have a good foundry about 1 1/2 hrs from where I live. If everyone were to farm out their work to China because slave labor wages makes things cheaper there, we would see our own industries collapsing for lack of business. Oops, that's already happening.

[jane peach]

I agree. We employed 25 people in our small pottery firm .. when we went to trade shows, we would fly the union jack .. we had leaflets with union jacks printed all over them .. buy british! But people prefer to buy, if they can, quality at knock down prices. So in order to compete and make a living not to mention a pension .. the only way I can see to compete on equal terms with the products that are out there .. is to have them produced in china and hope that one day we can bring production back to our own country. If ..(sorry this is getting too political) the federal reserve would just go away! So ..after letting off steam ..does anyone out there know of any good quality chinese foundries? I have contacted Merlion.

[Merlion]

the quality level can be low, depends on the foundry. i have heard better things of one in malaysia but cannot confirm, ask Merlion. ....
I just notice my name mentioned.

I have not heard, and doubt if Malaysia have good bronze art foundries. It is a country with Muslim majority, and Muslims do not like human visual images.

Over in this region, bronze art foundries exist in countries with many Buddhists as they like statues of Buddha.

I had only used a bronze foundry in Thailand. That was a few years ago.

I'm out of touch with this forum as by now I don't do sculptures. I focus on oil paintings, and sometimes doing installations with plastic boards. I think Blake still pops in from time to time. He may know bronze foundries in Vietnam.

[raspero]

quality Chinese? Isn't that an oxymoron?

R

[Merlion]

quality Chinese? Isn't that an oxymoron?
Open your eyes and get in touch with the world. Times have changed.

Some are still bad, but some are world class.

[raspero]

I apologize if I was a bit harsh. My experience of Chinese products is admittedly limited: mostly tools and running shoes.

R

[Tlouis]

Spend your money at home. Aren't we sending enough money to China. After crating and shipping costs, and insurance both ways, how much will you be saving? And you surrender control to an unknown entity. And if what you get back is shit...nothing you can do about it. Support the local economy. To hell with China.

[grommet]

It depends how altruistic you are. When you think about helping your fellow man, do you think of your neighbor, or globally. You cannot shop globally and help other countries' economies without shooting your neighbors in the foot. Not fatal, but hurts like hell.

[olivier]

Not really into the philosophical debate... I am using a foundry in Thailand and I am extremely pleased with it... Very high quality, never any delays, extremely knowledgeable... using the most advanced modern technologies along with traditional expertise... They always deliver on time, on budget and to high standard... the only time I had a piece with a small defects they recatsed it for free...

Even with the added cost of shiping plaster and shipping the bronze back to me the costs are still very competitive...

I am also working with a local foundry and also casting myself but I must admit that this foundry has won my trust and I am sending them more and more work.

Dont know about China.

Cheers,

Olivier

[obseq]

Okay, it's one thing to criticize a foundry or group of foundries, but let's not cross the line into denigrating an entire country.

[Tlouis]

After the rape and butchery of Tibet I still say to hell with China.