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Sculptor needs copper finishing to preserve patina and sheen?

I am an artist and have created a large scale copper tooling project for a show at the de Young Museum. My question is about finishing the copper to preserve the patina and highly polished sheen.

I started by dipping the pieces in sulfuric acid to remove impurities. I then created a patina using liver of sulfur ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] . The work was polished using a 3M metal polish and then was lacquered using a spray lacquer for metals. Within 24 hours the lacquer began to flake off.

Can anyone recommend a good process ...lacquer, acrylic spray for metals, polyurethane, etc to seal the copper patina and maintain structural integrity. And could you recommend a good brand that you have had long term experience with?

Thanks for your time and expertise. A quick response would be appreciated.

Beth Grossman
artist - San Francisco, California, USA
2007

My guess is that it was a bar polish and contained a wax or a fat. You might try using a liquid or a powder to see if it helps.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2007