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• Are these pieces 100% guaranteed?  

    Yes, all of my work is guaranteed!  You may return any piece that you find unsatisfactory for repair, replacement, or refund.  I hand make every piece, so none are absolutely perfect, but customer satisfaction is my ultimate goal.

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• What is an "oval head screw"? 

            Oval Head means the screw head is lower, not a hemisphere as a round head screw would be.  They don't stick up as far, but they are still "round".  These seem to suit my style of hardware the best.

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• Do these need to be polished?

            They need polishing only if you want them to stay bright and shiny.  They all come with instructions and are easy to polish.  If left to their own devices, they will slowly darken (oxidize) over time.  You can coat them with a paste wax, such as Johnson's which will greatly inhibit the oxidation, but may make them difficult to polish in the future.  Many people choose to let them mature. 

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• How can I polish these?

    It is the nature of bronze to develop a natural patina (darkening) over time and with exposure to acid or alkaline environments. Many people choose to allow this natural aging process and may prefer this appearance to that of a newly polished piece. If you would like to keep the piece shinier, it is easily polished with a soft cloth and a good quality polish like Brasso (my favorite is a paste called Simichrome by Happich which is a paste that can be found in some jewelry supply and antique stores). The polish you use should not feel gritty or you may end up with a satin instead of a shiny finish. If you would like to greatly retard the oxidizing process and maintain the shine, the piece may be coated with a thin film of a good paste wax such as Johnson’s. It may need to be re-coated annually. Do not try to polish a piece that has been wax coated.

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• What is "Lost Wax Casting"?

        Lost wax casting is an ancient art, developed thousands of years ago in both China and Africa.  In essence, a wax pattern is carved; surrounded with a ceramic slurry; burned away, or  "lost"; and replaced by molten metal.  You can get a fuller explanation of the process here.

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• What is "bas relief"?

            Bas is French for Low (a Basset Hound is a low, or short-legged dog).  Bas relief means low relief, so the sculpture doesn't rise very far from the base.

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• Can I get them in different colors?

            Yes, these pieces can take a patina, which turns them a rich, dark brown with polished highlights, or they can be plated in many colors including:  nickel, copper, silver, etc.  I don't do plating (too many toxic chemicals required), so that they must be sent off for this, and it adds an extra charge.

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Here the Fox Head is shown with a dark patina (coppery brown), natural bronze, and nickel plating. There is a small fee for adding a patina and an additional fee for nickel plating. (Click here to see fee schedule)

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• Do you do custom orders?

            Yes, I do many custom pieces depending on the time, and the size requirements.  Each one must be evaluated individually.  The size that I can cast now is limited to under 4".  I can have another foundry cast larger pieces, but this adds a lot of cost.  I charge by time, so email me ( sculptor@castofcharacters.com ) if you have an idea you want to see.  I also work in silver and gold.

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•     Will my personal information be safe?

            Yes, absolutely.  Until I have a secure site, do not email credit card numbers to me.  Either call me (1-888-495-1090) or email (or send by regular mail -- see address below) your phone number so that I can call you.  

I will never give, sell, lease, etc. your personal information such as address, phone number, email address, card number, etc. without your written consent.  I pledge to treat your information in the same way I would want my own to be treated.  Email me ( sculptor@castofcharacters.com ) if you have a concern.

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•    How do I order ?

• You can go to my Printable Order Form, print it, fill it out, and send it in!

    There are a couple of other different ways you can purchase the items you like.

1.  First, check the prices of your item(s) on the "quantity discount" page.

2.  Add $7 for shipping any order in the US.  For international orders, usually US $10 is sufficient for Canada, and $12 for most other countries by Priority Mail International, but the best idea is to email me ( sculptor@castofcharacters.com ) for an estimate of shipping charges.

3.  Total your order (with shipping) and transfer funds by one of the methods listed below:

    a..  The easiest, fastest,  most secure way to order is by using PayPal.  It is a FREE service.

    You can pay instantly by clicking on the PayPal logo below: 

    Or go to:  https://www.paypal.com/