Bronze Hare Sculpture
The Divine Feminine Power
When you see hares boxing in the wild, it’s very often the female fighting the males to test their strength.
If they pass this test, they’ve then got to keep up with her speed and then fight off any other suitors. Only then will she think him worthy. In a world full of Disney princesses awaiting rescue by Prince Charming, the hare’s choice in the matter of a suitor really speaks to me.
The hare – often half hiding in the dusk or dawn, has carried with it a feeling of mystery – in folklore she would be condemned as a shapeshifting witch. Her love for the moon only strengthening the tales.
Her curves swoosh and her long, silken ears flow as she turns to look over her shoulder. Her attention caught for a brief moment in the moonlight.
Standing at 44cm, she makes a bold statement and unique conversation starter. The metallic of the bronze shines through her elegant patina, highlighting the movement and accentuating her feminine curves.
She is one of a series of only 9, individually hot-cast bronzes. Designed to impress and be cherished for years to come.
Limited Numbered Edition 9
Approx. Size 44cm height (17″) x 24cm (9.4″) width
Approx. Weight 12.3kg
Shipping Customers are responsible for any customs and duties on international shipments. Each sculpture will be carefully packed along with their certificate of authentication.
UK delivery – please allow 5 working days. International delivery will take longer but is tracked.
VAT – Price includes VAT at 20% in applicable countries
Available for immediate worldwide delivery.
How are they made?
I start each sculpture in exactly the same way, with a bag of professional grade clay.
Once dried but not bone dry, the hare was ready to have her moulds made.
From the plaster moulds, silicon moulds were made.
When a new hare is born, hot wax is poured into those silicon moulds to create an exact copy of each piece.
These are then carefully assembled to produce an exact copy of the original clay hare in wax, which is then dipped multiple times into a ceramic slurry to form an outer coating to the wax.
Once dry, they’re then put in the furnace and the wax melts out, leaving a hollow ceramic shell.
It’s this shell that the molten bronze is then poured into.
Once the bronze has cooled, the ceramic shell is knocked off to reveal the bronze casting beneath. The inside is ground out and then the pieces assembled and finished by hand.
Then comes the patination process – a combination of heat and different chemicals to produce different colours.
Once the patina is complete, hare gets all hot and bothered again before a generous coating of wax is applied to protect the finish, she’s allowed to cool, then buffed to a shine.
Here’s some snaps I took during her creation process…
Bronze sculpture guide
Let’s start with the basics: What exactly is bronze?
Bronze is a metal alloy mostly made up of copper. Mass-produced bronzes often skimp on the copper content and use tin, lead, and iron instead which leave the sculptures open to corrosion and breakages.
The bronze I use for my sculptures contain a high copper content of 96%, along with 1% manganese and 3% silicon. The added silicon strengthens the sculptures, although it makes the process more challenging and costly for the foundry.
Hot or cold?
Cold cast bronze refers to sculptures made with resin and moulds, sometimes finished with bronze powder to mimic the look of a genuine bronze sculpture.
Hot cast Bronze involves creating a mold from the original sculpture, followed by the creation of a wax copy. The wax piece is then dipped multiple times in a ceramic coating, creating a sturdy shell. This is then heated in a kiln to melt the wax. Molten bronze can then be poured into the ceramic shell. Once cooled, the ceramic shell is removed, and the sculpture is assembled and perfected. The finishing touches involve patination to create beautiful surfaces, followed by a seal of hot wax that gives the sculpture its sheen and protects the surface from the elements.
Limited editions.
The number of pieces in an edition directly impacts their exclusivity and value.
Higher edition numbers indicate less exclusivity, while lower numbers make each piece more sought after.
But that’s not all! Provenance matters too.
Can you trace the sculpture’s journey from the artist to your hands? Look for sculptures made in the UK by reputable foundries, as they proudly put their name to their work. And for your peace of mind and future valuation, you’ll receive a signed certificate of authentication alongside your bronze sculpture.
Caring for your bronze
A wipe over with a clean, soft, dry cloth is all that’s needed unless the bronze is kept outside when it will need wax applying at least once a year to keep the elements off it and it looking like it should. Left to the elements the surface will develop into a green effect which is also rather nice.
