Christopher,
    If they were my doors I would remove just the patination by buffing and
using cutting compounds.  Buff entire surface with a rouge, wax and polish.
Rewax two coats of Microcrystalline Wax yearly.  Or apply hot patinas to get
an even blue/green and then wax.
    If they were a client's doors I would recommend they contact  a
conservator that does historic bronze doors all the time and can suggest a
myriad of options, finishes and annual maintenance required, including
estimates of cost.  One such person is Franicis Miller of ConservArt LLC.  A
new member of The Guild of Fine Craftsmen and Artisans:  203-248-2530
Best,
Leland

----- Original Message -----
From: "Met History" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2001 6:54 PM
Subject: Preservation question: clean facade, but leave the bronze?


> Carrere & Hastings designed a  1909 townhouse at 69 East 79th Street (NYC)
> for George Rives, now occupied by the Greek consulate.  The Consul General
> has just finished cleaning the limestone facade and installing new/old
white
> windows.  But, on the stoop, he pointing to the anciently-patinaed bronze
> doors (also 1909) and said "Do I clean them, like we cleaned the facade?
> Then they'll just look new."
>
> He had three test areas:
> 1.  completely refinished to look nearly black
> 2.   completely refinished to look bright
> 3.   slightly polished, to yield some highlights, but leaving mostly
deeper
> "bronze" color on the low points
> 4.    untouched, which mixes the deep green patina with salt spray and
> accumulated crud
>
> Then he pointed to the small area which people push to get into the
building,
> rubbed smooth, with that red tint that is native to old bronze.  He
pointed
> to that area and said "That, that's what I want - but how can I get that?"
>
> What should I have told him?
>
> Christopher Gray
>