This is a finely sintered real bronze which, once formed into a moulded shell, is then filled with a strengthened resin. This is an increasingly accepted art medium which, less expensive than founded bronze, has made bronze fine art more widely affordable. The finish is permanent and the appearance of the product is virtually indistinguishable from the traditional method. It needs only a gentle dusting and the occasional application of wax to retain its lustre. Metals oxidise with time, but the 'bloom' of a cared for bronze patina cannot be matched, developing with time a richness and depth of remarkable beauty.