Congratulations! You have just acquired a bronze sculpture created by Loet Vanderveen, the most important American wildlife sculptor since Frederic Remington.

Care for your new artwork is simple, but it does require some knowledge and common sense.

Each bronze animal is covered with a "patina", a coloration created at the foundry by applying different chemicals to the heated metal that are then sealed with a wash of hot wax.

The patina "luster" is maintained by applying a very thin layer of hard wax (Trewax is the preferred brand) every three to six months, depending on how much of a polished finish you prefer.

Many of Vanderveen's animals have certain areas that have been highlighted in gold, the natural color of polished bronze. These areas should be polished only with a bronze cleaner, such as Simichrome. However, the bronze cleaner should be applied very carefully with Q-Tips, removed with a cotton cloth. And it should never touch the patinaed areas or it will remove the coloration.

As with any artwork, do not place the sculpture outdoors or in direct sunlight. The ultra-violet rays of the sun will cause discoloration in the sculpture. Over a long period of time the colors will eventually change due to the natural oxidation of the metal.

If a change in coloration does occur, or if you would like to renew or change the patina color, call Coast Galleries and we can arrange for your piece to be re-patinaed at the foundry, a process that takes between four to six weeks.

Follow these simple instructions and you will be able to enjoy the patina of your Vanderveen sculpture as much as you enjoy its gracious and dramatic forms.