The Early Modern Era witnessed bronze transcend its ancient role as a material of war and worship to become a global medium of artistic expression, technological innovation, and cultural exchange. From the towering cathedral bells of Europe to the intricate lost-wax castings of Benin, from the massive Ottoman siege cannons to the refined temple bells of Japan, bronze served as both a practical material and a symbolic substance that connected diverse civilizations across continents. This period saw not merely the continuation of ancient techniques but their refinement, adaptation, and cross-cultural fertilization as trade routes expanded and empires rose and fell. The story of bronze between 1500 and 1800 is ultimately a narrative of human ingenuity, artistic achievement, and the material culture that shaped the modern world.

A History Of Bronze In The Early Modern Era (1500 – 1800)

The Early Modern Era marked a transformative period in bronze working, characterized by the refinement of casting techniques, the globalization of bronze technology through colonial expansion, and the flourishing of distinct regional traditions. From European artillery foundries to Asian temple workshops, from African royal courts to American colonial enterprises, bronze remained central to military might, religious expression, and artistic achievement throughout these three centuries.

Chronology

• 1500 – European bronze cannons reach their “classic form” with longer, lighter, more accurate designs that would remain relatively unchanged until the 1750s; Benvenuto Cellini born in Florence, who would become a renowned bronze sculptor and goldsmith of the Renaissance [1, 2]
• 1507 – The Vischer family completes work on the bronze Shrine of Saint Sebaldus in Nuremberg, demonstrating Northern European mastery of bronze casting [3]
• 1510 – Spanish conquistadors begin colonizing the Caribbean, bringing European bronze-working technology to the Americas [4]
• 1515 – Ottoman forces use bronze cannons in military campaigns as the empire expands [5]
• 1533 – Ottoman bronze cannon created in Algiers decorated with fleurs-de-lis and monster head, later inscribed for Amir Muhammad Hasan in 1589 [6]
• 1540 – Cellini creates his famous golden saltcellar for Cardinal Ippolito d’Este, demonstrating mastery of bronze and precious metal working [2]
• 1543 – William Levett, English parson of Buxted, with Ralf Hogge casts first iron cannons in England, challenging bronze’s dominance in artillery [1]
• 1545 – Cellini begins work on his bronze statue Perseus with the Head of Medusa, completed in 1554 [2]
• 1550 – Oba Esigie’s reign in Benin marks one of two “Golden Ages” of Benin bronze workmanship with production of commemorative heads and plaques [7] *the article feature image is a collection of Benin bronze heads
• 1556 – Mughal emperor Akbar begins reign, under which Indian metallurgy produces excellent bronze cannons [8]
• 1562 – Tophane foundry in Istanbul casts 1012 bronze guns weighing 481 tons total in a single year [5]
• 1570 – Lost-wax bronze casting technique well-established in Egypt and throughout Mediterranean world [9]
• 1580 – Bronze cannons become standard armament for expanding European naval fleets [1]
• 1589 – Ali Kashmiri ibn Luqman invents seamless celestial globe cast in bronze using lost-wax method in Kashmir [8]
• 1590 – Ottoman bronze cannon with Arabic inscriptions cast for Amir Muhammad Hasan in Algiers [6]
• 1600 – Nordic Bronze Age casting techniques continue in Scandinavian workshops despite transition to Iron Age; Portuguese traders bring European bronze-casting knowledge to Japan through Nagasaki [10, 11]
• 1610 – Toyotomi Hideyori commissions large bronze temple bell for HÅkÅ-ji temple reconstruction [11]
• 1625 – Segovia Cathedral construction begins in Spain, featuring elaborate bronze elements [12]
• 1650 – European artillery founders achieve mastery in casting bronze cannons with improved boring techniques [1]
• 1676 – Peter the Great commissions Falconet’s colossal 16-ton bronze equestrian statue, cast in single pour [9] * see image at the end of the article
• 1716 – Albert Borgard’s artillery designs accepted by British Board of Ordnance, standardizing bronze cannon specifications [15]
• 1720 – Japanese temple bell casters continue traditional bonshÅ production using methods unchanged since Nara period [11]
• 1722 – Colonel John Armstrong redesigns British bronze cannon to create lighter artillery pieces [15]
• 1725 – Oba Akenzua I bronze rattle staff created in Benin, showing continued mastery of lost-wax technique [16]
• 1730 – European bell foundries centralize production as railways enable easier transportation of large bronze bells [17]
• 1735 – Russia attempts to cast massive Tsar Bell but 11.5-ton slab cracks off during 1737 fire; Eresoyen’s reign marks second “Golden Age” of Benin bronze workmanship lasting until 1750 [7, 17] * the article feature image is a collection of Benin bronze heads
• 1740 – Whitechapel Bell Foundry and John Taylor & Co dominate English bronze bell production [17]
• 1747 – Spanish bronze cannon cast at TÅji using “old bronze” (Bronzes Viexos) from melted captured artillery pieces, demonstrating recycling of scarce bronze resources [19]
• 1750 – European foundries develop revolutionary ability to cast bronze cannon barrels as solid blanks then bore them out, improving accuracy and quality [1]
• 1760 – Lacquered bronze work from Pátzcuaro, Mexico demonstrates colonial Mexican artistic innovation [20]
• 1769 – Spanish missions in California commission bronze church bells from local and imported founders for new settlements [21]
• 1775 – American Revolutionary forces use bronze cannons with effective range of 1200-1500 yards [22]
• 1780 – Mysorean army develops metal-cylinder rockets with bronze components for use against British [8]
• 1795 – Late Ming dynasty bronze ritual vessels demonstrate continuity of Chinese casting traditions [13]
• 1800 – Industrial Revolution begins transforming traditional bronze casting into mechanized production [24]

Final Thoughts

As the Early Modern Era drew to a close, bronze stood at the threshold of industrial transformation. The ancient alloy that had served humanity for millennia—in war, worship, and art—had proven remarkably adaptable to the changing needs of an increasingly interconnected world. The period from 1500 to 1800 demonstrated bronze’s unique ability to embody both continuity and change: while Japanese temple bells continued to be cast using methods essentially unchanged since the eighth century, European artillery founders pushed the boundaries of metallurgy to create ever more powerful weapons. The artistic achievements of this era—from the delicate lost-wax castings of Benin to the monumental sculptures of Renaissance Europe—established standards of excellence that continue to inspire. As bronze entered the industrial age, it carried with it three centuries of global exchange, technical innovation, and creative expression that had forever altered the relationship between material, maker, and meaning.

Thanks for reading!

References

[1] Military technology – Artillery, Development, Warfare – https://www.britannica.com/technology/military-technology/The-development-of-artillery

[2] Renaissance Sculpture from Florence and Rome – https://www.italian-renaissance-art.com/Renaissance-Sculpture.html

[3] Bronze Sculpture in the Renaissance – https://www.metmuseum.org/essays/bronze-sculpture-in-the-renaissance

[4] Spanish colonization of the Americas – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_colonization_of_the_Americas

[5] Ottoman weapons – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_weapons

[6] Ottoman cannon — Google Arts & Culture – https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/ottoman-cannon/kwESRM-TIrt-8Q?hl=en

[7] Benin Bronzes – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benin_Bronzes

[8] History of metallurgy in the Indian subcontinent – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_metallurgy_in_the_Indian_subcontinent

[9] History of Bronze Castings – http://www.thebronzesmith.com/blog/2015/8/17/history-of-bronze-from-the-book-methods-of-modern-sculptors-by-ronal-d-young-rober-a-fennell

[10] Nordic Bronze Age – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic_Bronze_Age

[11] BonshÅ – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonsh%C5%8D

[12] Gothic cathedrals and churches – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_cathedrals_and_churches

[13] Recasting the Past: The Art of Chinese Bronzes, 1100–1900 – https://www.metmuseum.org/met-publications/recasting-the-past-the-art-of-chinese-bronzes-1100-1900

[15] British Cannon Design 1600 – 1800 – https://www.arc.id.au/Cannon.html

[16] Long in Exile, the Looted Benin Bronzes Tell the Story of a Mighty African Kingdom – https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-long-exile-looted-benin-bronzes-story-mighty-african-kingdom

[17] Bellfounding – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellfounding

[19] Bronze Weapons in the 1700s – https://fortticonderoga.org/news/glitters-not-gold/

[20] Art and Imagination in Spanish America, 1500–1800 – https://www.slam.org/exhibitions/art-and-imagination-in-spanish-america-1500-1800-highlights-from-lacmas-collection/

[21] colonization of the Americas – https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/colonization-of-the-Americas/272832

[22] Revolutionary War Artillery & Cannons – https://www.americanrevolution.org/artillery-and-cannons/

[24] Ages of Bronze: European Sculpture 1500-1900 – https://smartmuseum.uchicago.edu/exhibitions/ages-of-bronze-european-sculpture-1500-1900/

* Falconet’s colossal 16-ton bronze equestrian statue, cast in single pour, from 1676: