A pair of Japanese Bronze puppies

Bronze, Brass, Copper... these terms are sometime interchangeably used to describe objects that have a yellowish colour when polished. As Japanese artisans have always been particularly talented at casting metalwork, Japanese antiques offer a profusion of objects in bronze or similar alloys. “Bronze” composition differs from place to place and in time. The variations are based primarily on the main additive, tin being in more or less proportion or replaced altogether with other metals like lead or zinc, or iron. Reasons for this include economy or creating a softer or stronger alloy, depending of the purpose of the casting. But the term bronze is often misused; some Greek castings called “bronzes” are really pure copper, ancient Russian bronzes are actually an alloy of copper and iron, and many labeled “bronze” relics in museum are actually just coppery metal.