Character & Care
Our solid bronze tiles are designed to evolve, developing a rich, dimensional patina that makes each installation more distinctive with time.
Bronze becomes more beautiful with age.
Natural patina is part of what gives bronze its enduring beauty. Technically, it’s oxidation: the bronze responding naturally to its environment. Over time, the surface darkens and mellows like a prized antique, with air, moisture and everyday wear giving each piece its own character.
It isn’t a flaw to prevent. It’s part of what makes real bronze beautiful.
What will the patina look like?
The same tile, decades apart.
See how real Foundry Art tiles have evolved over time. Move the slider to compare each tile when new, naturally aged, and lightly buffed.
Like the shiny nose of a well-loved statue, this is a beautiful reward that comes only with age.
Ted Lowitz, founder
Footsteps do the polishing.
When used in a floor, time-worn paths appear as the tiles are gradually polished by footsteps. The high points brighten where people walk while the recesses keep deepening, so the pattern gets more legible, not less.
It’s a kind of beauty and wear that cannot be made by artificial means; it can only be earned with time.
Water creates a more dramatic patina.
Regular exposure to water accelerates the natural patina process, creating a darker, more pronounced finish. Outdoors, bronze may eventually develop the distinctive green tones associated with naturally weathered bronze.
Prefer to preserve a brighter finish? The tiles can be sealed with lacquer, which should be reapplied periodically. Either way, the change is purely aesthetic. The solid bronze beneath remains durable for generations.
Let it age, slow it down, or keep it bright.
How your bronze evolves is entirely up to you. Bronze asks very little in return: a soft cloth for everyday care and, when you choose, a few minutes of attention to restore its brightness or preserve its patina.
The questions below cover the rest. There is no wrong answer, only the look you want.
A finish that becomes yours.
Unlike manufactured finishes designed to remain perfectly uniform, solid bronze records the life around it.
Touch, footsteps, water and time slowly shape its surface, creating an installation that becomes more individual, and more beautiful, the longer you live with it.
Made by hand. Cared for by hand.
Every tile is carved, cast, refined and polished by hand in our Chicago studio before it ever reaches yours. A soft cloth and the occasional buff is all it asks in return.
Care & ordering
Frequently asked questions
Foundry Art tiles require very little maintenance. For occasional cleaning of messes and dust, simply wipe with a soft cloth and mild dish soap. Avoid abrasive pads or acidic cleaners for routine cleaning. The patina is part of the bronze itself, not dirt or buildup that needs to be removed.
Yes. Polish with a mild abrasive pad such as Scotch-Brite. In some cases, a metal polish such as Brasso or Flitz can be used, taking care not to rub the polish into the surrounding grout. Buff the high points and leave the recesses dark; that contrast will emphasize the pattern.
A light coat of paste wax after installation is all it takes. Renew it occasionally to hold the tone where you like it. We recommend Renaissance Micro-Crystalline Wax Polish.
We love a natural patina. Generally, we recommend regular buffing if you prefer the “like-new” look. If you want to prevent the patina entirely, you can use a lacquer such as Incralac once the tile is installed and grouted.
Traditional Bronze is a mixture of copper and tin typically used for casting fine sculpture. The natural patina that develops gradually is warm, mellow, and darker than when the tiles first arrive at your home. Our White Bronze metal contains less copper and more zinc and nickel, creating a cooler color similar to nickel silver. White Bronze stays close to its original tone over time and is embossed with a “W” on the back of the tile. Both colors are exceptionally durable and solid bronze throughout, never coated or plated.
No two Foundry Art tiles are exactly alike. Subtle variations in texture, tone, and surface character are a natural result of our hand-casting and finishing process, evidence of the craftsmanship behind every piece.
| Material | Solid bronze, not a coating or plating – in a choice of Traditional Bronze or White Bronze. |
|---|---|
| Tile sizes | 1×1, 2×2, and 3×3 inch (nominal). Hardware sized per piece. |
| Thickness | 3/8 inch (nominal) |
| Weight | ~0.13 lb (1×1) · ~0.4 lb (2×2) · ~0.7 lb (3×3), per piece |
| Variation | No two Foundry Art tiles are exactly alike. Minor irregularities are a reminder of the many hands that make them. |
| Finish | Hand-ground, buffed, toned, and waxed. The surface continues to develop a patina after install. |
Per-piece weights and exact sizes are listed on each product page.
Bronze is best experienced in person. Registered customers may request a complimentary swatch set or order up to two full-size tiles with free shipping in both directions. We recommend seeing both colors firsthand before selecting a finish for a larger installation.
| Material | Solid bronze, not a coating or plating – in a choice of Traditional Bronze or White Bronze. |
|---|---|
| Liner sizes | 3/8×10 inch (Straight Line) · 1/2×10 inch (Carved Half-Round, Twig Liner) · 3/4×10 inch (Ladder) |
| Thickness | 3/8 inch (nominal) |
| Weight | ~0.3 lb (Straight Line) · ~0.5 lb (Carved Half-Round, Twig Liner) · ~0.7 lb (Ladder), per piece |
| Variation | No two Foundry Art liners are exactly alike. Minor irregularities are a reminder of the many hands that make them. |
| Finish | Hand-ground, buffed, toned, and waxed. The surface continues to develop a patina after install. |
Every order is carefully packed and fully insured for transit. Shipping costs are calculated based on the weight and destination of your order and are displayed in your cart before checkout.