When you walk along a city street or enter a public building and notice ornamental fixtures and identification plaques, what captures your attention first? The design? The shape? The size? A combination of these factors? If the objects are crafted of cast bronze, maybe its the high level of detail. One reason that cast bronze products stand out is bronze offers creative options.

Bronze signifies permanence and prestige. Additionally, cast bronze provides users of ornamental and identification products with the four D's: detail, design, dimension and durability. With bronze, even the finest detail is precise. Product designs and dimensions are virtually endless. Bronze also is a highly durable material.

An increasing number of architects and fabricators are choosing cast bronze for decorative pieces. Practically any architectural or decorative metal product can be cast in bronze.

Matthews International Company operates six bronze foundries throughout the United States, Canada and Australia and can duplicate patterns previously produced in wrought iron or artistic steel. Once Matthews creates a pattern for a decorative product, the bronze castings are produced without variation. Bronze is perfect for ornamental products that are designed in multiple pieces. Of course, Matthews' artists and designers also are available to create original patterns for one-of-a-kind objects.

There are seldom size limitations when using bronze. Matthews' foundries are equipped to produce castings with unique shapes and complex designs as well as those which are extremely large.

It is common for extra large ornamental applications to be cast in several pieces. For example, the entrance and doorway to the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, which is the Arabic nation's equivalent to the U.S. Federal Reserve, are comprised of more than 7,000 bronze castings.

This bronze entry facade and doorway, which measure over 100 feet high and 30 feet wide, are the largest modern use of bronze. All components of the doors were manufactured in Matthews' bronze plant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and shipped to Saudi Arabia. Because the components of the doors and facade were cast individually in sand molds in a foundry, they could be designed of varying depths and dimensions. However, the casting process ensured that all of the pieces which needed to be identical matched perfectly.

Matthews also cast the bronze crest for the hangar that houses the fleet of 747's for the Sultan of Brunei. This ornamental use of cast bronze depicts a sculpted eagle with a wing span that measures 39 feet by 19 feet. It is mounted on fabricated aluminum measuring 50 feet by 26 feet. This royal crest also was cast in pieces which were assembled during installation.

The location of the installation is an important consideration when choosing a material. Bronze is ideal for objects that will be displayed permanently indoors or outdoors.

Matthews recently cast four handsome bronze seals that were installed along the sides of a pedestrian bridge in downtown Providence. These seals, which measure 48 inches in diameter, feature a single polished anchor surrounded by a ring of stars and a nautical rope. The placement of these seals along the bridge, added to the beauty of the river front area. In addition, bronze was the perfect choice for these bridge enhancements because it is one of only a few materials suitable for this installation that could endure Rhode Island's extreme weather conditions.

Organizations often develop complex designs for permanent public recognition plaques that are enhanced by cast bronze. Matthews was recently commissioned to cast bronze plaques for Westinghouse Electric Corporation. The company chose cast bronze for its George Westinghouse Total Quality Award because of the level of detail the design commanded. These 24" x 36" plaques, which are awarded to a Westinghouse Division each year, include a multi-level portrait of George Westinghouse surrounded by the images of the various products that the company manufactures. The casting process enables bronze producers to create exquisite multi-dimensional images.

Matthews often designs one-of-a-kind bronze castings that are protected by a copyright. These castings are typically produced for display as an on-going series, such as those created for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Each year, special plaques are cast using the Hall of Fame's copyright design to honor inductees. This pattern is used exclusively for the Hall of Fame plaques. If another organization would want to cast a similar styled plaque, Matthews would create a new design. Cast bronze plaques with custom letters and logos, chemical patinas, custom coloring, granite inlays or special emblems can be produced for installation on a variety of surfaces.

Last summer, Matthews cast bronze plaques that are the focal points of a war memorial which was dedicated in Salina, Kansas to commemorate the 50th anniversary of D-Day. This feature consists of an eight-sided granite monolith. The sides include bronze plaques that measure 90" x 52" inches that are dedicated to the branches of the military. The tribute is crowned with a life-sized bronze eagle.

Matthews' artists and designers frequently work with architects and designers to create full-round sculptures -- original works of art in bronze -- for placement in public buildings and parks. For example, Matthews won a sculptural design contest with an interpre-
tation of the "the resurrec-
tion of the body and eternal life of the soul" for Resurrec-
tion Cemetery in Clinton Township, Michigan. The design, which features a sequence of three sculptural works of art that portray the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, will be placed in the courtyard outside of the cemetery's mausoleum.

Bronze decorative products are found everywhere. When you are in a large public area or driving through city streets, look around. You will probably see cast bronze plaques, statuary and ornamental objects. If you have enough time, notice the design, the detail, the dimensions. Bronze products retain their natural beauty. Bronze is truly the metal of the arts and of the ages.

The next time that you are asked to create an ornamental object that will add beauty to a public site, remember the four D's and consider bronze.

For more information about cast bronze decorative or identification products or to locate a distributor in your area, contact Matthews' Architectural Products Department toll free at 1-800/628-8439 extension 5548.