Bronze - Copper - Tin - Brass - Nickel - Silver - Pomponne - Regul - Ruolz - Zamac

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Bronze - Copper - Tin - Brass - Nickel - Silver - Pomponne - Regul - Ruolz - Zamac - Zinc

- The alloy of copper and tin, bronze has been used since antiquity for statues and for decorating furniture. Use of bronze reached its height in the 18th century when it became an essential ingredient of every decoration and was gilded with ormolu. Bronze was used to make a wealth of chandeliers, lighting brackets, candelabras, candlesticks, andirons. In the 19th century its use declined.
Patinated gilt bronze Napoléon III Console made by Ernest Carrier-Belleuse and Aimé-Jules Dalou. Doc Sotheby's

- For thousands of years copper has been smelted, beaten and alloyed with other metals. Its red colour makes it easily recognizable. It is sometimes used to decorate furniture and is a popular material for lights.

- Mined in many different parts of the world, tin was considered a precious metal by early civilizations. Before it fell into disuse, tin was not only used for utilitarian objects like lights but was also used in the 16th and 17th centuries to decorate furniture as a substitute for silver, particularly in Boulle's marquetry work.

- Brass is often confused with copper but is in fact an alloy of copper and zinc. It was applied to furniture in fine sheets or was used for beading around table tops (e.g. on pedestal tables).
Brass under Louis XVI

Brass beading. Doc: Private collection.

Mahogany column with tapered foot ; brass-lined fluting.

- Nickel silver is an alloy of copper, zinc and nickel used as imitation silver.

- "Pomponne" is the name given to all the different alloys with a copper base that imitate gold.

- "Regul" is an alloy of lead, tin, copper and antimony used, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries, to imitate bronze.

- From 1883, Ruolz was the name given to certain siver-plated metals.

- Zamac is an alloy of zinc and lead.

- Zinc is a component of several copper alloys. It was used to cover the inside of certain pieces of furniture (rafraîchissoirs, jardinières). Cast and covered with a gold substitute it was used as imitation bronze.

- The alloy of copper and tin, bronze has been used since antiquity for statues and for decorating furniture. Use of bronze reached its height in the 18th century when it became an essential ingredient of every decoration and was gilded with ormolu. Bronze was used to make a wealth of chandeliers, lighting brackets, candelabras, candlesticks, andirons. In the 19th century its use declined.	Patinated gilt bronze Napoléon III Console made by Ernest Carrier-Belleuse and Aimé-Jules Dalou. Doc Sotheby's
- For thousands of years copper has been smelted, beaten and alloyed with other metals. Its red colour makes it easily recognizable. It is sometimes used to decorate furniture and is a popular material for lights.
- Mined in many different parts of the world, tin was considered a precious metal by early civilizations. Before it fell into disuse, tin was not only used for utilitarian objects like lights but was also used in the 16th and 17th centuries to decorate furniture as a substitute for silver, particularly in Boulle's marquetry work.
- Brass is often confused with copper but is in fact an alloy of copper and zinc. It was applied to furniture in fine sheets or was used for beading around table tops (e.g. on pedestal tables). Brass under Louis XVI Brass beading. Doc: Private collection.	Mahogany column with tapered foot ; brass-lined fluting.
- Nickel silver is an alloy of copper, zinc and nickel used as imitation silver.
- "Pomponne" is the name given to all the different alloys with a copper base that imitate gold.
- "Regul" is an alloy of lead, tin, copper and antimony used, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries, to imitate bronze.
- From 1883, Ruolz was the name given to certain siver-plated metals.
- Zamac is an alloy of zinc and lead.
- Zinc is a component of several copper alloys. It was used to cover the inside of certain pieces of furniture (rafraîchissoirs, jardinières). Cast and covered with a gold substitute it was used as imitation bronze.