When the bronze has solidified, the mould is carefully chipped off leaving the bronze sculpture (still with its supporting structure, which is now also in bronze).
The risers and sprue cup are then sawn off and the sculpture finished with fine tools, files, etc. If there are any imperfections, these can usually be corrected by welding with bronze wire.
A brown or green patina can then be applied – either of these colours creates a traditional bronze finish – or the sculpture can be polished to reveal the natural beauty of the bronze.