Since 1992, Bronze et al, Ltd., has been privileged to conserve numerous works of artistic and cultural importance. The National Gallery of Art, the White House, and the Hirshhorn Museum call Andrew Baxter when the demands of a conservation project are beyond the scope of their staffs. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources insisted that Baxter take over and run an architectural restoration, and private collectors cherish him as a trusted advisor.
A graduate of the California College of the Arts, he began his career at Tallix, a prominent art foundry north of Manhattan. There he learned every aspect of creating metal sculpture: the alloys used, mold making, wax work, shell building, gating, pouring, welding, finishing, and especially, the art of patination.
This experience distinguishes Baxter among conservators in ways that are practical and important. How a casting or fabricated work was assembled, its structural integrity, the evidence of poor work and how it is repaired or disguised, why a patina failed – Baxter is a diagnostician not only of the sculptural product, but of the processes involved in its creation. This rare and comprehensive knowledge has engendered the trust of important institutions.
Combining an artist’s eye with deep skills, his proficiency with patinas is renowned. Collectors such as Paul Mellon and artists including Nancy Graves have requested his expertise, and he has conducted numerous workshops demonstrating his techniques to students, artists, and conservators from top tier institutions including Harvard, the Getty Museum, the National Gallery of Art, and the Smithsonian Institution. During twenty-five plus years of private conservation work, Bronze et al, Ltd., has also successfully branched out to encompass works in wrought iron, plaster, lithic aggregates, and stone, including architectural elements.
Please view our gallery and varied list of projects.