Sourcing original bronze sculptures from China

UK duty on original bronze sculptures

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 14 November 2026, heading 9703 covers original sculpture and statuary in any material, including bronze. Every supplied line carries 0% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measure or suspension shown. Modern busts and statues share a commodity code; the table separates these buying examples. See the wider original prints and sculpture guide.

The tariff attaches ivory and CITES import controls. For a sculpture containing ivory, confirm with the Animal and Plant Health Agency whether import restrictions apply and whether an exemption is needed for sale. Ask your customs broker to confirm the registration or exemption reference required. If protected animal or plant material is included, confirm the CITES documents before shipment. The snapshot also lists UK export controls; ask your broker to review these before any later re-export.

Confirm the age, material and originality using finding your commodity code. Confirm the applicable import VAT treatment with HMRC or your customs broker; do not assume that decorative reproductions qualify for reduced valuation merely because they are bronze. The import duty and VAT guide explains the calculation.

Specify the artist, casting and patina

Agree the artist, title, dimensions, bronze alloy, hollow or solid construction, weight, patina colour, surface finish and base attachment. Record the signature, edition number and certificate details. Obtain evidence that casts were produced by or under the artist's supervision. For the usual VAT limited-edition treatment, sculpture casts from the same mould must not exceed eight; refer older editions to your customs broker.

Specify acceptable weld visibility, chasing around joints and the finish inside accessible cavities. Approve photographs of the actual sculpture, including its underside and mounting points. Agree handling points and internal crate supports that protect projecting limbs and prevent rubbing against the patina. Solid wood packaging must meet the applicable UK import requirements.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative gallery order: 20 original bronze sculptures across different designs under 9703 90 00 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £32,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £32,000, so it is £6,400. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity: match the signature, edition number, title and certificate to the actual sculpture and invoice.

Casting: inspect for cracks, open seams, pinholes, rough repairs and distortion around thin projections.

Finish and mounting: compare the patina with approved photographs; check scratches, loose fixings and whether the base sits level.

Packing: check internal restraints, protected projections and separation between metal and crate walls. Photograph condition before dispatch and on arrival. See quality inspection explained.

What goes wrong

A foundry's description of a piece as original does not establish artist involvement or a qualifying edition. Missing supervision records, inconsistent edition numbers and certificates referring to another cast leave the buyer unable to support the claimed treatment. Resolve these gaps before shipment.

Heavy bronzes can move inside a crate even when the outer box looks intact. Unsupported projections bend, base fixings loosen and abrasive wrapping marks the patina. Compare the arrival photographs with the agreed condition record before accepting repairs.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.