Full Idea
It is a metaphysical possibility, obtaining in virtue of the essences of such objects, that the same bronze statue should coincide with different lumps of bronze at different times. (..they have different persistence conditions).
Gist of Idea
The essence of a bronze statue shows that it could be made of different bronze
Source
E.J. Lowe (What is the Source of Knowledge of Modal Truths? [2013], 6)
Book Reference
-: 'Mind' [-], p.22
A Reaction
If the fame of a statue were that it had been made by melting down the shield of Achilles (say), then the bronze it was made of would be its most important feature. Essences are more contextual than Lowe might wish.
Related Idea
Idea 16545 The essence of lumps and statues shows that two objects coincide but are numerically distinct [Lowe]