Plaques & lettering
Cast bronze plaques, memorial tablets, donor boards and raised lettering
Cast, not engraved: the letters stand proud of the plate because they were poured that way, which is why a cast plaque still reads after thirty years outdoors when an etched one has flattened.
- Text
- Raised or recessed, cast in
- Artwork
- Vector file preferred
- Finish
- Patina · polished face · lacquer
- Fixing
- Drilled · studded · concealed
What we need from you
A plaque order is mostly artwork
Send vector artwork (AI, EPS, PDF or SVG) with the text as outlines, the plate size, the border style, and whether the background is to be textured (stippled or leathered) or smooth. We return a layout proof for your approval; nothing is cast until you sign it off, because a spelling mistake in cast bronze is a new plaque, not a correction.
- Raised text on a textured ground — the classic memorial look, highest legibility, most forgiving outdoors.
- Recessed text — flatter appearance, often paint-filled for contrast.
- Polished face, patinated ground — text and border polished back after patina, for interior donor walls.
Installation
Fixings and what the wall has to take
- Studded — threaded studs cast into the back, grouted into drilled holes. Invisible fixing, the standard for memorials.
- Drilled — countersunk holes with matching bronze screws or rosettes, for plaques that may be moved.
- Frame-mounted — for donor boards that grow: a fixed frame with interchangeable name plates so next year's names do not mean a new casting.
Cast bronze is heavy. A 60 × 40 cm plate is a two-person lift and the wall behind it needs to be sound masonry rather than board. We state the cast weight on the quotation so your installer can plan.
Outdoor life
Patina, lacquer and honest maintenance advice
Outdoors, bronze wants to go green and eventually black; what keeps a plaque readable is the contrast between polished letters and a darker ground, plus a lacquer coat and an occasional wax. In a coastal or industrial setting, expect to re-wax annually. We put that in writing with the order rather than leave your client to discover it, and we supply matching touch-up notes on request.
Before you enquire
Samples, minimums and timing on this line
- Sample first
- Catalogue sample from stock, or one piece cast to your drawingThe sample cost is credited against your first production order.
- Minimum order
- Set by order value, not by pieceMix sizes and finishes on one pallet; send your list and we say whether it clears the minimum.
- Lead time
- 21–30 days casting after drawing approvalStock sizes sooner; gilding, inlay and enamel add finishing days we quote separately.
- What you get back
- Unit price EXW and FOB Hai Phong, weights, carton sizesQuotation within two working days of a complete enquiry.
Request a quote on this line Ask on WhatsApp What to send for a quote
Questions on this line
Before you order
Can you cast in a language other than English or Vietnamese?
Yes, provided you send the text as vector outlines. We cast what the artwork shows; we do not retype text in a script we cannot proofread.
What is the smallest quantity?
One, for a memorial or a building plaque. Small runs of identical plaques are cheaper per piece because one pattern serves them all — tell us if more are likely to follow.
How long does a plaque take?
Reckon on a proof within a few days of receiving artwork, then 21–30 days for casting and finishing plus freight. Rush work is possible by air; ask before you promise a date to a client.