Etched Bronze Passport Trail Markers

TACTILE WAYFINDING PLAQUES

LARIMER COUNTY, COLORADO

Photo credit: Teddy Parker-Renga, Larimer County's Community Relations Specialist

We are city dwellers here at Masterwork Plaques, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t serious nature lovers. When Masterwork was approached by Larimer County to produce their beautifully designed metal Passport Trail Markers, we were thrilled. 

The Larimer County Department of Natural Resources in Colorado manages Larimer County's great outdoor places, including open spaces, trails and water-based recreation areas. They also foster responsible land stewardship through maintaining healthy forestry practices. The county is particularly committed to promoting a sense of community and deep appreciation for the natural and agricultural heritage of the area for present and future generations. 

Each of the sixteen etched bronze trail marker plaques is a small 3” square. Each plaque is fixed to a wooden post placed throughout the county’s open spaces trails. The design team at the Department of Natural Resources provided the metal illustrations, and our studio optimized these designs to ensure each plaque would etch correctly at our etching facility.

"The plaques themselves are really cool. Hopefully, people get a ‘collect them all’ mentality once they see the plaques and want to get rubbings of them all. "

— Kerri Rollins, Larimer County’s Open Lands Program Manager

Photo credit: Teddy Parker-Renga

Photo credit: Teddy Parker-Renga, Larimer County's Community Relations Specialist

The artwork for each trail marker plaque was particularly important, as the plaques were used for the county’s unique passport program. Each bronze marker was designed with a unique image that represents the space where it is installed. When hikers come along a metal marker on a trail, they can place their hiking “passport”, which they received from the county, over the metal relief and take a rubbing from the plaque (with a pencil, crayon, etc.). This rubbing has a stamping effect which marks their passports and can be used to win various prizes. This fun and interactive activity encourages everyone to hike and enjoy the magnificent nature, while also fostering a sense of pride for the community. 

We’ve found throughout the years that bronze plaques large and small have a unique ability to promote a sense of community where they are installed. Bronze plaques can be used for wayfinding purposes, public art pieces, historic plaques and inset sidewalk medallions. Both long-lasting and eye-catching, metal plaques draw attention to public spaces that may have otherwise been overlooked. As is the case with these Passport markers, plaques can also help lead passers-by through a natural space. Bronze and other metals also have a beautiful visual appeal that will last for years regardless of rain, snow or sun.

We encourage you to learn more about this metal marker project and check out the Larimer County website for more passport program photos captured on the trails.

Purchasing Metal Plaques in Bulk

Ordering plaques in large quantities requires attention to detail and proper planning. Whether you are in need of a group of interpretive plaques installed in a series, award plaques or way-finding signage, there are a few things we’d like to suggest, right off the bat:

TIPS FROM THE PLAQUE-MAKERS

#1 PLAN AHEAD

In the age of one-click purchases, many of our clients do not expect custom plaques to take the time they do to produce. We use traditional mold-making processes and bronze pouring techniques to ensure your plaque is created at the highest quality.  Each one of our projects is designed to our client’s liking, and after the order is finalized, the designs go through pattern-making, casting and finishing processes before shipment. Our plaques are made by skilled artisans that value their craft and are proud of the Masterwork product.  

For single plaque orders and smaller quantities, we typically require four weeks to produce and deliver the work. For certain projects, we can expedite this manufacturing time to two weeks for an additional fee. If the bulk order is over 25 plaques, manufacturing time is usually around 6 weeks. For orders of 100+, we tend to ship out in installments, and manufacturing time is determined by the size of each plaque and the overall quantity.

#2 CONSIDER STORAGE

For large quantity orders and plaques that are over 4ft in size, storage can become an issue. When you start to plan the content of your plaque, also start to consider a secure storage area where the plaques can be received and held. Masterwork Plaques does not provide storage once the plaques have been manufactured in order to maintain an orderly shop environment.

#3 ORDER A SAMPLE PLAQUE

Better safe than sorry, we always say. If time allows, we suggest ordering a single plaque before proceeding with a large order. We can produce a sample plaque in two weeks, which gives our customers the opportunity to review the final product before 100, 500, 1000 plaques arrive at their door. Sample plaques give our customers the option to review a plaque in person and make any appropriate changes to the design, which prevents issues in the final order.

We also have samples in house that can be sent to clients with tighter schedules. Our pre-made samples are 6” x 4” and can give you a tangible idea of the finish quality and background textures you are planning to use in your final order.

#4 INVEST IN A HIGH QUALITY METAL

Masterwork Plaques is all about quality. We create our custom signage at competitive prices, and we always suggest that our clients create their plaques from the best materials they can afford. While bronze and stainless steel are a little more costly than other metals, they last a whole lot longer, and the investment pays off over time.  Our customer relations team can work with you to determine the highest quality product that fits within your budget.

COMMON TYPES OF PLAQUES ORDERED IN LARGE QUANTITIES: 

WALKS OF FAME

Honoree Plaques | Star Plaques | Permanent Sidewalk Medallions | Tribute Trails

Walks of fame (similar to the Hollywood Stars in Los Angeles) are typically large quantity orders that are installed underfoot, commemorating specific individuals. These plaques are created using one base design, with interchanging honoree names. 

INTERPRETIVE PLAQUES

Way-finding Plaques | Illustrative plaques | Historical Markers | Timeline Insets

Interpretive plaques are informative text plaques or illustrated markers that often lead the viewer through a park or building while telling a story. The plaques can show the passing of time from piece to piece, or depict unique events that took place at the specific site where these plaques are installed.

BULK ORDERS

Award Plaques | Donor Plaques | Corporate Signage | Building Plaques

Bulk order projects are large quantity orders of one plaque design, and often are produced in the largest numbers. Many clients will be interested in ordering hundreds of plaques for a building or a group award, and it is imperative that each plaque looks consistent.

Masterwork Plaques offers discounted pricing for bulk and quantity plaque orders.

For a custom quote on any of these types of projects, fill out a quote request form or give us a call at (718) 283-4109 if you would like to discuss your unique quantity plaque project in more detail.

Jackie Robinson Commemorative Plaque

EBBET'S FIELD HOME PLATE PLAQUE

Masterwork Plaques designed and fabricated a commemorative "home plate" plaque to honor Jackie Robinson’s major league baseball debut. This cast bronze plaque is installed at the former site of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, NY.

From 1913 - 1957, Ebbets Field was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team. Ebbets Field was the site of many of the Dodgers early successes before their eventual move to Los Angeles in 1958. Among these historic successes was the desegregation of the team, with the signing of Jackie Robinson in 1947. Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play in the major leagues, bringing the end to sixty years of segregation in professional baseball.

The plaque is installed at the precise location of Ebbets Field’s former home plate, where Jackie Robinson first stood at bat on April 15, 1947. The project was developed as a part of Ken Burns newest documentary series, in conjunction with the release of Google’s visual reality headset. By overlaying a photograph onto a more recent photo of the current landscape, Google was able to determine the exact location of the home plate (Yahoo Sports: 10 Degrees: The secret virtual-reality project to honor Jackie Robinson) This commemorative plaque resides in the courtyards of the Ebbets Field high-rise apartment complex, and the home plate shaped plaque faces where the old center field would have been if it still existed today.

Our studio can create custom shaped commemorative plaques in just about any shape and size. For this particular project, we felt it was appropriate to use the dimensions of a home plate, to reference the historic baseball field.

Arcadia Vietnam War Monument

Photo credit: Gene Glasco

MEMORIAL DAY IN ARCADIA, CA

This Memorial Day, fourteen US servicemen from Arcadia, California, who died in the Vietnam War, were honored in the county park at the newly constructed Arcadia Vietnam War Monument. The project was spearheaded by Gene Glasco, a veteran of the Vietnam War and Arcadia City Clerk. The monument structure was fabricated and set in time for a special dedication ceremony on Saturday, May 29th. 

For Arcadia Weekly, Glasco stated that “the Arcadia Vietnam War Monument has been built in honor of Arcadia’s sons lost in battle, but it also stands in tribute to all living Vietnam Era veterans.” The bronze plaque on the front of the monument commemorates the fourteen Arcadia casualties of the Vietnam War. On the back are three cast aluminum plaques, one of which commemorates additional veterans from WWI, WW2, Korea, Vietnam and as recent as Afghanistan.  

In addition to the four cast bronze and aluminum plaques, Masterwork Plaques designed and fabricated the waterjet cut letters and military seals which were also inset into the front of the monument.  

Photo credit: Gene Glasco

WATERJET CUT LETTERS

“Waterjet” refers to machinery that uses a pressurized stream of water to cut through a variety of materials (most commonly metal). The water is forced through a small hole to focus high pressure water into a very thin stream. This stream is powerful enough to cut out precise, free-form shapes, which we use primarily to cut individual metal letters (from any font) in a wide range of sizes. The individual bronze letters shown in the monument are 3” in height and 1/4” thick.

DONOR SIGNAGE

The cast plaques on this monument are a great examples of donor signage. The majority of the money needed to create this monument was fundraised and donated by organizations and generous individuals from Arcadia. Masterwork Plaques can create donor plaques at just about any size, to fit a large or small list of names for honored donors.

OUR STUDIO'S DONOR PLAQUES CAN BE CREATED IN TWO WAYS:

1. Perpetual Plaques:  When a continually growing list of donors needs to be honored, individual name plaques can be added to the plaque over time.  

2. Cast List Plaques:  This donor list plaque can be created in one piece for a list of contributors that does not need to be added to over time.  Every few years a new plaque can be added to a wall featuring an updated list of recent donors.

For more information on our cast donor plaques and waterjet cut projects, contact us at info@masterworkplaques.com.

High Quality Images for High Quality Portrait Plaques

PHOTO-RENDERED PORTRAIT PLAQUES

One of the most popular techniques offered at Masterwork Plaques is our “photo-rendered” portrait process. We recommend this option to all of our customers, especially those in search of a cost-effective portrait plaque that can be created in a short amount of time.  

The most important element of the photo-rendered portrait process is the actual photo of the subject that is provided to us. It is important that the photo is not pixelated or blurry, as this will show up in the final bronze portrait. For our clients who may be less familiar with what constitutes a high-quality photo, we’ve answered some frequently asked questions below.

WHAT IS "DPI"?

Dots per inch, or “dpi”, is the measure of the amount of dots comprising an image within the span of one inch. Computer monitors call these dots “pixels”, so “ppi” and “dpi” can be used interchangeably.  A high-quality photo has many dots per inch, a low quality photo has less. These tiny dots have a great effect on the overall image quality. Take a look at the high-quality example below.  

(Left) High-Quality Image (300dpi), (Right) Translation of image into Photo-Rendered portrait

As you can see, the photo above has no pixelation. The file is also 300 dpi, which means the image has a good amount of information to translate into cast bronze.

Below is an example of an image with only 60dpi. As you can see, this is a lower quality image. It appears blurry and unclear. We don’t have a lot of information. As you can see, the photo was translated into bronze, and the pixelation carried into the final product.

(Top) Low Resolution Image, (Bottom) Translation of Low-quality image into Photo-Rendered Portrait

The photo-rendered process converts data stored in the photograph into a bronze portrait. Therefore, if you provide a low quality photo, only limited information will appear on the final bronze plaque.

HOW CAN I CHECK IF MY PHOTO IS HIGH ENOUGH QUALITY?

Here’s a quick list of simple ways to check if your photo is usable:

1. Take a look at the image file size. If it is under 500kb, it may be too small to use.

2. Double click on the image file. If it opens up at a small size (less than half of your laptop screen, it is also likely too small.

3. At actual size, if the image appears blurry or pixelated, it is also too low quality.

CAN MASTERWORK PLAQUE USE PRINTED IMAGES?

In some cases, yes. We recommend scanning this image at 300dpi or higher if you can. The higher the dpi, the more data is copied from the original image and saved in the digital copy. Note: if the hard copy photo is blurry, you should not expect scanning to improve the photo quality.  If the subject is blurry in the original image, it will still be blurry in the scan, which will cause problems when this image is translated into bronze.

WHAT IF I CAN ONLY FIND IMAGES LESS THAN 300DPI?

If you are unsure whether your image is high enough quality, send it to us via email and we can review the image in house. Sometimes we can edit the image file to increase its sharpness and minimize minimal pixelation if no alternative can be found.

Bronze Plaques & Winter Weather

December is half way over, and temperatures are in the mid 60’s with sunny days and little wind.  Here in Brooklyn, we are cherishing the unusually warm winter weather.  All of our last minute winter preparations can be addressed without a rush, giving us an extra week or two to put away those favorite warm weather-clothing items, seal the windows and bring out our slippers. For our clients, this surprisingly warm period also provides a last minute opportunity to prepare their bronze plaques for another harsh winter.  We’ve included some valuable information on our bronze plaque winter prep process below.

One of the many benefits of bronze is that it is low maintenance metal.  Cast bronze plaques are very durable.  They hold up well underfoot and on the wall, indoors or out.  However, over time in harsh winter climates, the cold and salty conditions can sometimes begin to show on the surface of the bronze.   

Our studio finishes all of our plaques with a clear protective lacquer.  This lacquer serves as a sacrificial layer, creating a barrier between the plaque and any graffiti, humidity, salt, rain or snow which can otherwise cause the plaque to oxidize and turn green.  Bronze is a metal alloy composed of nearly 90% copper, so left without the protective coat, the metal's coloration will change over time.  Many of our clients enjoy the natural patina of bronze, and some even request that we do not apply the clear lacquer to their plaques.  This encourages the natural aging process, and the bronze will react and oxidize at a faster rate. 

For our clients who prefer that their outdoor bronze plaques remain as unchanged as possible over a period of years (keeping that natural peachy gold hue), we often recommend reapplying a clear coat once a year.  The initial clear coat applied in our studio lasts about one to two years; greatly depending on how harshly it has been treated under foot traffic, changing weather conditions, etc.  

HOW TO CLEAN AND RE-LACQUER YOUR CAST BRONZE PLAQUE

This process should only be attempted on a good weather day with dry conditions.  Reapplying the lacquer finish will ensure that your plaque is protected for the next 6 months to a year. Please note: Re-application of the clear lacquer is an optional process, and is meant as an extra precautionary measure.

CLEANING YOUR PLAQUE:

Many companies will recommend expensive oils and cleaning products used specifically for bronze.  In our experience, a mild soap (the plainer the better) and tap water are all you need to clean your plaque.  Use a rag or soft toothbrush to loosen any dirt or dust from the surface of the bronze.  If there has been any unwanted oxidation on your plaque, we often recommend using a Scotchbrite pad to gently scrub away the changed areas.

• Use mild soap and water – Avoid using too much soap, which can leave a foggy residue on the plaque.

• Wait for the plaque to dry completely or tamp dry with a lint-free, soft cloth. 

• Blow away any remaining dust / particles from the plaque.

• IMPORTANT NOTE:  Never use power washers, or astringent cleaners of any kind to clean metal plaques (i.e. Fantastic, Windex). The protective lacquer and patina can be stripped away by everyday cleaners and power washers. If for any reason the methods above are not sufficient, contact our studio and we can discuss alternative measures to address any damage or unwanted discoloration.

APPLYING THE CLEAR LACQUER:

We can supply a can of clear lacquer for a small cost, which typically will be delivered to you in about one week.  The lacquer should be applied in even strokes in three different directions over the bronze (i.e. spray horizontal strokes - let dry, spray vertical strokes - let dry, spray diagonal strokes - let dry.)  Depending on the amount of wear the plaque is exposed to over time, it may be desirable to reapply this coating annually. 

• Make sure the plaque is clean and no dust or particles can be seen on the plaque during the reapplication process.

• Let each coat dry completely before applying additional layers of the lacquer.

• Apply the spray in three different directions

Commission from Beth Ravitz & Cast Bronze Portrait Plaques

BROOKLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL, 1150 MICHIGAN AVE NE, WASHINGTON DC – PUBLIC ART PROJECT

Public artist, Beth Ravitz, recently commissioned Masterwork Plaques to fabricate seven cast bronze portrait medallions for Brookland Middle School in Washington, D.C.  In addition to our medallions, Ravitz also created and installed three aluminum banners that decorate the side of the school. 

Brookland Middle School is a magnet school for the arts and language and starts its first school year in fall of 2015.  The public art project tells the story of Brookland’s history and fosters a sense of community around the newly constructed middle school.  Ravitz’s goal in creating these banners and portrait medallions is to create harmony between the old and new architecture of the community and inspire hope and progress to the residents and students through visual language.  The seven portrait medallions were created to commemorate influential individuals that lived or were connected to Brookland in some way. (Images at bottom of blog)

Using the Masterwork Plaque bronze “photo-rendering” technique, each portrait was recreated in bronze.  Photo-rendered portraits are a great alternative to the time-intensive, bas-relief carved portraits that our studio also offers.  Photo-portraits are very low-relief, dimensional images translated into bronze directly from a client’s photograph.  We can create these photo-renderings from both recent and historic images, provided that the image is not blurry or pixelated.  The Brookland medallions were created from historic photographs of artists, writers, singers and others.  Each black and white photograph was cropped and inset into the design for these 18” diameter bronze medallions.  The portraits were then accompanied by a short summary of each artist’s achievements and finished with a surrounding border containing his/her name, birth and death, and profession.  The medallions were secured to low concrete pedestals on site.  Each pedestal is twelve inches off the ground at the front and rises to eighteen inches at the back so that they can be easily read by passersby.

Photo-rendered portraits are great solutions for historic plaques with black and white photos, memorial plaques for loved ones, dedication plaques for company founders, employees and more. This technique is suitable for both inset medallions and wall-mounted plaques and can be created using both cast bronze and cast aluminum.

Important notes for photo-rendered portrait plaques:

• The provided image can be black & white or color.

• The provided image should be sharp, high-quality and preferably 300 dpi in resolution.

• The provided image should NOT have significant pixilation, blurriness, or dramatic shadowing.

• Manufacturing time is approximately four weeks after the order is placed.

Our bronze plaques are created using a true chemical patina.  A true chemical patina chemically changes the surface color of the bronze, which eliminates the possibility of chipping away or peeling off over time, as occurs with a layer of paint or a stain from imitation patinas.  Often times plaque companies will apply a layer of paint rather than a chemical patina, which is cheaper, but will not last the test of time.

Cast Bronze Military Plaques

In addition to custom bronze plaques, Masterwork Plaques can create a variety of armed service medallions, military insignias, service crests, badges and veteran memorials from existing military artwork and logos.  These metal military seals can be created from any of the materials we offer, from cast bronze and cast aluminum, to etched bronze, aluminum, stainless steel, brass and zinc.  Each metal offers its own function and unique qualities.  Bronze and brass typically are considered more traditional looking metals whereas stainless steel, aluminum and zinc give the armed service plaque a contemporary feel.  

MILITARY SEALS & CRESTS

BAS-RELIEF MILITARY SEALS

Military seals are most traditionally created using a cast bronze, bas-relief technique.  This armed service seal style includes prismatic, hand-carved emblems and surrounding raised text with customized border. We have a variety of existing bas-relief patterns for military seals in stock at our studio. If another version of the military crest is requested, our studio clay-artists can hand-carve a new pattern to recreate the specific armed service seal to our client’s specific needs.

Our in-stock patterns include:

• U.S. Army plaques

• Department of the Navy plaques

• Department of the Air Force plaques

• U.S. Marine Corps plaques

• U.S. Coast Guard plaques

• Etched or Cast Military Plaques

• Bas-Relief and Flat Relief military plaques

ETCHED MILITARY SEALS

As a cost-effective alternative to cast bronze bas-relief medallions, we also offer “etched” military seals.  Etched plaques and medallions are lighter in weight and offer a more contemporary look.  Rather than including dimensional elements, these emblems are created graphically, with simple raised and recessed areas.  Graphic military seals give each plaque an illustrated and sleek design. 

FULL-COLOR MILITARY SEALS

Another alternative we offer is the recreation of full color logos and seals on metal military plaques. This process is best used for interior applications.  Using your high-quality photograph, we can create a full-color, printed metal replication of the logo or military crest of your choice.  This process is not created by digitally printing onto laminate or plastic; instead, it seals various dyes into anodized aluminum for a long-lasting, quality product.

VETERAN MEMORIALS / MILITARY BASE PLAQUES

Masterwork Plaques specializes in the creation of Veteran memorials and custom military base plaques.  Tributes to veterans can consist of cast bronze nameplates, commemorative plaques, illustrated bas-relief carvings, photo-portraits, etc.  Veteran recognition plaques can be installed on a wall, at a memorial site, inset into custom plinths or be given as gifts to deserving service members.  Masterwork Plaques provides design assistance and the necessary hardware for all these installations.

 Our studio has experience creating large-scale medallions for the entrances of various military bases and training facilities, as an alternative to plastic or glass signage.  Our custom circular medallions can be inset into the paving, on a wall, or the entrance lobby of your building to include a military base logo, armed forces seal, or other artwork.  Masterwork Plaques past clients include: The West Point Military Academy, The F.B.I., NASA Washington DC, US Department of State, The Los Angeles Police Department, The Los Angeles Fire Department, The Dallas Police Department, The City of New York and more.

For more information on government and military insignias, contact us at masterworkplaques@gmail.com.

REQUEST A QUOTE FOR A MILITARY PLAQUE

Bas-Relief Portraits: Hand-Carved Bronze Plaques

Masterwork Plaques can provide a large range of options when translating imagery, graphics and portraits into cast bronze plaques.  One of the most unique and artistic methods we use is what is called a “bas-relief” technique.  This hand carving technique is a time-intensive, one-of-a-kind process, created with help from our studio’s experienced clay artists. “Bas-relief” is a traditional method of low relief sculpture, and is often found on historic bronze plaques. While it is most often associated with portraits, it can be used for logos, architectural renderings and depictions of plants, animals and people. Bas-relief imagery adds an authenticity and character to your cast bronze plaque project that can't be matched.

The bas-relief carving process starts with an image.  When creating portrait plaques, we ask our customers to provide an image of the person they are looking to memorialize in bronze.  We then share this image with our clay artists and after sitting with the portrait; they attempt to capture the person’s features, smile and unique qualities in clay.  Our studio works closely with both our clients and sculptors to ensure that the carving has a true likeness to the subject. 

Once the clay carving is complete, our designers mold the carving using a two-part rubber mold, and finally cast it again in plastic.  This gives us a more sturdy relief pattern that is safe for casting in bronze.  After the portrait plaque is cast in bronze, we then finish our bronze plaques with a true chemical patina, so that the bronze plaque will last for years, without the risk of peeling or chipping.

 Important notes for Bas-Relief Portrait Plaques

• The subjects face must be at least 6” high from chin to crown.

• The provided image must be of high quality with minimal pixilation, blurriness, and shadowing.

• Two rounds of revisions are included, to ensure a true likeness to the subject.

• Manufacturing time is approximately 8-10 weeks after the order is placed. 

Bas-relief carvings are a great way to differentiate your plaque from the mass-produced signage and template based memorial plaques that too often dominate in the plaque-making industry.  Our studio has created portrait plaques, historical markers, and even architectural renderings using bronze bas relief.  Masterwork Plaques is committed to revolutionizing the plaque making business, from a field with mass-produced signage and standard template based plaques, into an industry where each plaque is created from unique designs and materials of the finest quality. 

Building Management Plaques: Company Signage

Building management plaques, metal building owner signs and leasing agent markers are an excellent way to both to secure property and provide a stylish statement piece recognizing building ownership.  Our studio specializes in the creation of these custom building plaques, translating your company’s logo and business information into an eye-catching work of cast metal art.  Our studio also offers discounts on quantity plaque orders, understanding that our property management, building owner, landlord and leasing agent clients often work with multiple properties. 

Building management plaques have a great amount of flexibility in regards to their design.  Material, size, border style and finishing techniques can be tailored to the brand and personality of each company and property location.  For example, bronze and brass plaques are typically associated with a more traditional styled building, whereas a stainless steel or aluminum plaque is visually more contemporary and match modern construction.

We also can offer a variety of border styles and finishing techniques, shown on our plaque options page, that can set your plaque apart from the rest. 

Random Orbital, Satin and Polished finishes

Finally, Masterwork Plaques offers secure installation techniques that both seamlessly integrate into a plaque's design and protect against any risk of theft. For more information on building management plaques, contact us at info@masterworkplaques.com

Edgewood Plaza, Palo Alto, CA: Joseph Eichler Commemorative Bronze Plaques

THE RENOVATION OF EDGEWOOD SHOPPING CENTER, 72" X 48" CAST BRONZE PLAQUES

Masterwork Plaques was invited to create two large-scale commemorative plaques for the Edgewood Plaza Shopping Center, located in Palo Alto, CA, which were recently installed in May 2015.  The shopping center was originally developed by the well-known real estate developer, Joseph Eichler, in the mid-1950’s.  Over the past few years, the site has gone through restoration and redevelopment by Sand Hill Property Company.  Our custom-designed bronze plaques include the original site plans created by Eichler and architect A. Quincy Jones in 1955, in addition to providing a brief history of Eichler’s well-known “California Modern” style

Image provided by Sand Hill Property Company and the Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.

Joseph Eichler developed over 11,000 affordable houses in California, and is considered one of the most influential builders of his day.  He was influenced by the styles of Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe, and even lived in a Frank Lloyd Wright house himself.  His goal was to “bring the outside in” with floor to ceiling windows, patios and gardens.  He incorporated these ideas into Edgewood Plaza, the only commercial property Eichler ever built. The original shopping center was considered a landmark for its suburban post-war design, and for this reason, the two custom bronze plaques were created. 

Edgewood Plaza: Cast Bronze Plaque (1 of 2)

Our studio was able to recreate several of Eichler’s original site drawings and architectural plans in bronze. Taken from a scan from historic archives, the first plaque shows two different renderings created in the mid 1950’s (the third is a photograph from 2014).  Our studio can depict historic renderings in two ways: either illustrated in flat-relief, or recreated as a photo-rendered image.  The illustrated drawing spans across the bottom half of the first plaque.  This drawing from A. Quincy Jones was originally rendered in a simple black and white style. We felt this style was important to keep alive when translated into bronze. The second image in the top left corner of the first plaque is rendered in a photographic style, because the original rendering was composed of complex shading, more like a photographic image.  It is contrasted with a photo from the 2014 renovated site to its right. On the second plaque (shown below), the original illustrated plan view from the 1955 shopping center is shown contrasted against its 2014 renovated layout, giving us another before and after look at Edgewood Plaza, then and now.

Edgewood Plaza: Cast Bronze Plaque (2 of 2)

Masterwork Plaques has worked with many commercial properties in the past on projects ranging in complexity from building management plaques, to historic commemorations and landmark projects.  For a bronze plaque project of this scope, “before and after” images both commemorate the original designs and welcome any changes to the newly renovated properties.  The custom plaques also provide an opportunity for education and historic context for the casual passerby.  For more information on historic landmark plaques and building management plaques, send us an email at info@masterworkplaques.com.

McGown’s Pass, Central Park NYC: Historic Bronze Replication Plaques

CENTRAL PARK: EAST SIDE AT 107TH STREET ENTRANCE JUST SOUTH OF THE HARLEM MEER

Masterwork Plaques recently collaborated with the Central Park Conservancy and the NYC Parks Department to recreate a historic commemorative plaque.  Designed and installed just in time for spring of 2015, this custom bronze plaque is an exact replica of the original dedicated in 1906, which was lost sometime in the 1970’s.

2015 Replica of the original McGown's Pass plaque

McGown’s Pass (sometimes spelled “McGowan’s”) is a small part of the northeast section of Central Park and is named after the McGown family, who owned a tavern in the area from 1756 until the Revolutionary War.  The plaque commemorates the area’s advantageous position during the British occupation of New York from 1776 to 1783, in addition to its use during the War of 1812, where Fort Clinton was built to better arm and protect the city.  McGown’s Pass is a high-topographical point in the park, and today, a commemorative site (where the newly installed plaque can be found) rests at the high point of the hill. 

McGown's Pass site, Before and After; Black and white photo courtesy of the Central Park Conservancy.

Masterwork Plaques was able to recreate this custom-shaped plaque from the reference of two black and white photos and an incomplete image of the original design plans.  This was the only remaining evidence of the original plaque’s design.  Using our extensive font library, we were able to design and customize each letter to best imitate the look of the original hand-tooled type.  Masterwork Plaques also modified our lamb’s tongue decorative border to include a sloped and dimensional ogee curve and custom corner details, which were present on the original historic plaque. Custom rosettes were also replicated and hand-carved based on the specifications on the original design plan. 

of the original plaque, courtesy of the Central Park Conservancy

Most importantly, when replicating a historic bronze plaque, is to capture the natural aged, antique look of a real chemical patina.  Masterwork Plaques’ offers specialty services from highly skilled artisans who can imitate natural tarnishing, corrosion, and weathering that occurs over time.  A true chemical patina chemically changes the surface color of the bronze, which eliminates the possibility of chipping away or peeling off over time, as occurs with a layer of paint or a stain from imitation patinas.  Oftentimes plaque companies will apply a layer of paint rather than a chemical patina, which is cheaper, but will not last the test of time.

All of these elements were vital to creating an exact replica of this historic bronze plaque. Techniques from this project can be used on any plaque project, whether the goal is to replicate a historic landmark, or to simply add an antique quality to any personal or commercial plaque that may aim to look like it has been in place for decades.  Our studio specializes in these custom design techniques.  Masterwork Plaques came into being from the desire to revolutionize the bronze plaque industry so that each plaque is created with one-of-a-kind designs and materials of the finest quality.

Starbucks Medallions, Brooklyn NY: Custom Bronze Relief Plaques

STARBUCKS COFFEE: N7TH STREET, WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN

These newly installed Starbucks medallions were created to commemorate the origin of the renowned coffee company in Seattle and welcome the franchise to Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The eight-inch diameter bronze medallions are installed in the second Starbucks location in Williamsburg, and share the space with other works of art from local Brooklyn artisans. The two bronze medallions are inset into a custom walnut table, suited for coffee tastings, and depict an image of the original “Pike’s Place” café and the Williamsburg bridge using traditional bas-relief techniques. Customers sitting in the café are encouraged to interact with the bronze while tasting coffee from around the world.  The bronze coffee beans and various hand-carved cocoa leaves give each plaque a unique tactile texture and give the tasting area an artisanal and unique quality.  New collaborations with Starbucks are underway at our studio, with every new medallion created commemorating the local histories from each unique location.  

Custom bronze medallions modernize and differentiate familiar spaces.  With thousands of locations across the country and world, the unique artworks are what set the Williamsburg Starbucks location apart, making the café feel local, original and a part of the Williamsburg community. Each medallion features a custom border made from casting actual coffee beans, which make the bronze insets unique to Starbucks.  Cast bronze medallions can be created at any size and shape using bas-relief carving techniques and can be customized with photographs, carvings, tactile objects and text.   

Make Your Own Plaque – Adding a Portrait?

HOW CAN I ADD A PORTRAIT OR PHOTOGRAPH TO A CAST BRONZE PLAQUE?

More often than not, cast bronze memorial and commemorative plaques will include an image of a loved one, principal, board member or friend in addition to a paragraph listing their accomplishments.  Our studio can recreate portraits and photographs onto a cast bronze plaque in one of three ways: photo-rendered portraits, bas-relief portraits and illustrated portraits.

Bas relief portrait of John McCain

BAS-RELIEF PORTRAITS

The most traditional portrait type is created using a bas-relief technique.  Using this method, one of our professional artists will hand carve a sculpted portrait of the subject based on the photograph of your choice. Originally carved in clay, then molded and cast in bronze or aluminum, this technique largely relies on the skills of our clay artists. This portrait technique takes 8-10 weeks to complete, and is the most expensive portrait option we offer.

PHOTO-RENDERED PORTRAITS

One of our studio's more contemporary techniques we use for portraits is the photo-rendering technique.  This method digitally translates a high-resolution photograph into a low relief, multi-dimensional casting.  It retains many of the details of the photograph, ensuring a high-quality exact reproduction in bronze.  This is a less time-consuming technique, with manufacturing time running around 4 weeks.  It is also the most affordable portrait option at our studio.

ILLUSTRATED PORTRAITS

Another more contemporary portrait technique is the illustrated portrait option.  Our designers will use a photograph of your choice as a template for a black & white illustrated drawing of the subject.  All the white areas in the illustration will convert into raised bronze colored areas on the plaque, and the black portions of the drawing will be recessed and dark and will become the plaque background. Manufacturing time for an illustrated plaque runs around 5-6 weeks.  

LAFD Bronze Memorial Medallions

LAFD METRO FIRE COMMUNICATIONS CENTER ON TEMPLE STREET, LOS ANGELES, CA

Commissioned by the Los Angeles Fire Department, these bronze castings memorialize Captain Matthew McKnight, a fallen firefighter and 31-year veteran of the LAFD.  The twelve inch diameter medallions were created in cast bronze, using the logo of the city's fire department. Based on the preferences of the client, the medallion was filled with three different paint colors, rather than a standard chemical patina.  

In addition to the bronze medallion, a larger plaque was created for a memorial wall dedicated in McKnight's name.  This central plaque includes the circular memorial medallion and an illustration of McKnight's personal captain's badge. This illustration was created based off of a photograph provided by the client, and replicated by our designers at our studio.  The black areas are translated into raised bronze colored areas on the finished plaque, whereas the white areas are translated as recessed and become the same level as the plaque's background.  Masterwork Plaques can translate any object, landscape or portrait into a flat relief illustration using this technique.  

MORE GOVERNMENT SEALS AND MILITARY CRESTS

LAFD Badge, Photograph courtesy of the LAFD

Studio Illustration with McKnight's badge number

Donations can be made to the LAFD website in honor of Captain McKnight on their donations page.

Make Your Own Plaque – Border Styles

WHAT BORDERS CAN I ADD TO MY CAST BRONZE PLAQUE?

Cast bronze plaques can be created with a variety of different border styles.  Typically a cast bronze plaque will have a simple border that is raised extending about ¼” from the edge of the plaque.  Borders are typically recommended on most cast bronze plaques, as they give the piece a finished and refined quality and also protect the central text and graphics from general damage. However, on occasion a borderless cast plaque may be preferred if the plaque will be inset into brick or into the ground and needs to have a seamless and integrated look with its surroundings. If a border is preferred, a standard single line border can be expanded to a double line border, beveled edge border, or even a combination of more than one border technique.  These borders are standard at our studio and are included in the price of the plaque (shown below).

In contrast to standard borders, decorative borders are custom made to fit your cast bronze plaque.  These borders are more complex and can consist of hand-carved elements, which give your plaque a customized look.  These borders, shown on our cast metal materials page, are typically used for more traditional plaques such as national register plaques, monument plaques, commemorative plaques, etc.  They can be especially helpful for large-scale plaques that do not have any graphic or illustrated elements, as the intricate borders provide an interesting contrast to the simplicity of the text. Decorative borders range from leaf borders, ogee borders, and classic lamb’s tongue and egg & dart borders.

Make Your Own Plaque – Fonts

WHAT FONTS CAN BE USED ON A CAST BRONZE PLAQUE?

Fonts are great tools for setting the tone of your cast bronze plaque.  When the designers here at Masterwork Plaques create a custom layout for your plaque, we think about the content of the piece, the client’s aesthetic, the intention of the plaque, where it will be installed, and who will see the plaque on a day-to-day basis.  Typically our designers think about fonts in three main categories: serifs, sans serifs and scripts.

Serif fonts typically have the most traditional look.  The word “serif” is defined as "small decorative lines added as an embellishment on the basic form of a letter".  Classic examples of a serif font are Times Roman, Garamond and the font "Cochin" as shown above.  These fonts are very well suited for commemorative plaques and dedication plaques as they have a more distinguished feel and look.

Sans serif fonts have a more modern aesthetic.  The most classic examples of sans serif fonts are Arial (shown above) and Helvetica.  These fonts do not have decorative embellishments on each letter; instead, they have a clean and simple shape.  Sans serif fonts are perfect for signage as they are easy to read from a distance.  They are also excellent choices for regulation plaques and property management plaques.

Script fonts are based on handwritten cursive, but are typically more elegant and calligraphic.  Script fonts can be either formal or informal depending on their use.  While our designers typically use scripts less often than serif and sans serif fonts, they can be the perfect choice for a formal bronze plaque or a plaque created for personal use.

Make Your Own Plaque - Etched Plaques

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF AN ETCHED PLAQUE?

Etched plaques typically have recessed lettering and graphics, and the remaining areas of the plaque are raised, finished metal.  An etched plaque can be particularly useful for smaller sized plaques, as a laser-cut letter can be created at a much smaller size than a cast plaque would allow.  An etched plaque can also be created at a variety of thicknesses, as they are created by cutting from a large sheet of metal and etching onto the surface of the sheet.  Therefore, one can choose between creating a plaque on a sheet of metal that is 1/4" thick, 1/8” thick, etc. 

Because an etched plate can be created at a small size and thickness, etched plates are the recommended choice for nameplates, regulation signage, bench plaques, product labels, etc.  Etched plates can also be produced in large quantities at minimal cost for this reason, particularly if the content of the plate does not vary from piece to piece.  

LEARN MORE ABOUT ETCHED METAL PLAQUES

Thoroughbred Walk of Champions: Custom Bronze Plaques

THOROUGHBRED WALK OF CHAMPIONS, ARCADIA, CA

 The newly installed Thoroughbred Walk of Champions was inaugurated with a festive community ceremony a few weeks ago on Huntington Drive near the Santa Anita Racetrack in California.  Spearheaded by local volunteer fundraisers, the walk of fame features an initial 67 custom bronze plaques set into the sidewalks. This bronze inset Walk of Fame will be expanded over future years to continue to commemorate the long history of horse racing in Arcadia and the West Coast.

CREATE A CUSTOM WALK OF FAME!

Each bronze inset recognizes a different horse, jockey, trainer, owner or other notable who has made significant contributions to California racing.  Listed inside the decorative horse shoe are the accomplishments and awards of each honoree.  Sixty of the 67 installed panels commemorate Cornerstone Champions, representing the deceased jockeys and horses.  These cornerstone champion plaques feature a small cornerstone emblem in the lower right corner of the plaque in addition to the birth and death dates of the honoree.  The remaining seven plaques honor the 2014 living inductees, which will be added to yearly.  

Among many distinguished guests was Jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr., shown with his honorary bronze inset at the opening ceremony above.  In addition, the devoted volunteer fundraising committee was introduced and congratulated for the successful project for Downtown Arcadia that will be enjoyed for years to come. (Sandy Snider, Gail Marshall, and Beth Costanza are shown below with the inaugural bronze dedication plaque commemorating Santa Anita park).

As proven by this great project, Walks of Fame featuring custom bronze plaques can be a long-lasting source of pride for a community. 

Walk of fame projects:

• Work in series, guiding visitors through a section of town.

• Are expandable in future years.

• Promote tourism.

• Promote community pride and local interest.

• Are educational and honor individuals and events.

• Commemorate donors and aid in fundraising campaigns.

Cast Bronze Plaques with Textured Backgrounds

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF A TEXTURED BACKGROUND ON A CAST BRONZE PLAQUE?

The recessed background of a cast bronze plaque is typically created with a subtle background texture and color, which provides contrast to the plaque’s raised text and border elements.  If a large plaque is created without a background texture, the casting process can leave subtle water marks on the surface of the background. These marks are normal occurrences on larger plaques, which are caused by the pouring of the molten bronze in the casting process.  Masterwork Plaques encourages textures on larger plaque projects to help disguise these flow marks, unless the client prefers the natural texture-free look.

We offer a variety of textures that range from subtle to dramatic.  The leatherette and pebbled backgrounds are two of our most popular choices for clients looking for only slight variations in the background.  Both textures are subtle and are best for plaques with a heavy amount of text and graphics, as they do not distract the viewer.

Textured backgrounds can also make your cast bronze plaque look distinctive and artistic. For a more striking texture, we would recommend the travertine and sculptured texture options.  For plaques with a decent amount of background space, we recommend textures which are more dramatic, to keep these open areas interesting. All of our textures can be used to differentiate your plaque project from the mass-produced, template based signage.  More information on background textures and other decorative elements can be found on our material options pages. 

SEE CUSTOM OPTIONS FOR CAST PLAQUES