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Bronze Dog Sculpture: Sitting Labrador Maquette by Sue Maclaurin

Bronze Dog Sculpture: Sitting Labrador Maquette by Sue Maclaurin

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Only 2 left in stock

Including VAT: $136.10 Excluding VAT: $113.42

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Will be dispatched on: Monday 6th January

This WILL NOT arrive in time for Christmas (UK & Overseas).
We are currently on our Christmas break. Place your order now and it will be dispatched on Monday 6th January.

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Size in cm: 6.5w x 6h x 3d cm
Size in inches: 2½"w x 2½"h x 1"d
Weight: 155g / 5½oz

Edition: 500
Material: Foundry Cast Bronze

This Sue Maclaurin bronze sculpture, 'Sitting Labrador Maquette' was cast by hand in a British foundry by Nelson & Forbes, as limited edition of just 500 castings. It is part of the Nelson & Forbes ‘Studio Maquette Collection’, which was launched in 2015 following requests by collectors for miniature sculptures that would make ideal gifts.

Every maquette is presented in a high quality handmade gift box with each piece beautifully wrapped in a velvet pouch and is accompanied by a booklet containing an artist hand signed certificate of authenticity and information about the artist and casting process. It bears the edition number of your sculpture and is your guarantee that this is an original foundry casting of the sculptor’s work that she has personally approved.

This bronze casting is a perfect recreation of the artist's original sculpture and took two weeks to create by hand. It bears the artist's signature mark and its own unique edition number marked on the sculpture. As every piece is cast by hand and then the mould destroyed, each one is an original and so will be very slightly different to the last.

Born in Colchester, Sue Maclaurin emigrated to Northern Rhodesia with her family, where a life-long passion for wildlife and horses began.

Her childhood was spent, when not at boarding school, roaming freely in the bush on horseback, revelling in the diversity of wildlife which still existed at that time.

Returning to England to study at Winchester School of Art, Sue graduated with a B.A (Hons.) in Fine Art and subsequently spent several years involved with Marwell Zoological Park, where she continued to study, paint and sculpt their wide variety of animals at very close quarters. While she was there, Sue was commissioned to create the art work and logo for Marwell Park’s advertising.

During these few years, Sue further explored and develop her interest in sculpting at Pinewood Studios as she was asked by Ray Harryhausen to assist him model making on various films including Clash of the Titans.

An opportunity then arose for Sue to return to Africa with her family, and the following four years were filled happily with the pursuit of varied projects including gold-mining frontier style, fish farming and dairy farming, while Sue continued to sculpt and paint for her own pleasure.

Whilst Africa and its wildlife were ‘utterly beautiful’, it unfortunately became too politically unstable, so Sue’s family once again returned home to England. Her wildlife sculpture was quickly accepted by galleries across the United Kingdom and quickly developed a loyal following of collectors.

A white house in the Wiltshire countryside is now home, with two Siamese cats, two horses, a thriving sculpture studio and a saddlery business that means Sue’s skills as a Master Saddle Maker command a constant waiting list. Sue continues to sculpt both the wildlife that surrounds her home daily as well as other traditional animals such as pigs and thoroughly enjoys hearing stories of the joy that the bronze castings of her pieces bring to collectors.

Creation of your bronze sculpture

Every time we cast a piece, a new mould is created and subsequently destroyed. This means that every single piece of sculpture bought from us is entirely hand made and utterly unique, which is why it is numbered by hand to tell you which casting of the edition you have bought.

1. Mould Making

A silicone rubber mould is made of the original art work. Absolutely every detail captured or missed by this mould will be reproduced in the bronze castings. Depending on the size of the mould, it may then be cut into sections for casting.

This is the master mould used to originate all castings of that piece. Each time that piece is ordered, we follow the following procedure:

2. Making the Wax Casting

Molten wax is poured into the rubber to create an exact wax duplicate of the original model.

3. Chasing the Wax

The wax is removed from the rubber mould any flaws are hand finished by a skilled craftsman.

4. Spruing

Wax rods and a wax pouring cup are carefully attached to the wax casting in just the right positions to allow bronze to be poured in any displaced air to escape. This means that no air bubbles are trapped inside the mould as they would be gaps in the finished bronze piece.

5. Investment

The wax model with attached rods is now covered in ceramic material which will form the mould for the final bronze pour. This is done by dipping the wax model carefully into investment liquid and then covering it in a fine powder before allowing it to cure (completely dry). The model is then dipped into investment liquid again and given a coating of a coarse ceramic powder. By following this procedure several times, a ceramic shell is built up around the wax model.

6. Burn-Out

The wax inside the ceramic shell is then placed in a kiln and fired. The shell bakes and the wax is melted (lost) from the shell. This creates a hollow ceramic shell mould and accounts for the term "Lost Wax" being applied to the process.

7. Casting

The ceramic mould is removed from the kiln and molten bronze is immediately poured into it, at 1200°C.

8. Break Out

Once the casting has been allowed to cool for several hours, the mould is carefully removed by hand from the bronze model inside.

9. Sandblasting

Any fragments of the ceramic shell are removed by sandblasting and the sculpture is carefully inspected at this point.

10. Assembly

All attached rods and cups (which are now bronze) are removed by hand. At this point, any segments of a large sculpture that has been cast in sections are welded together.

11.Chasing

All the weld marks and removed and rod marks are chased and re-detailed by hand. Any scars left by the rods are carefully blended to match the rest of the sculpture’s surface as intended by the artist.

12. Polishing

The bronze is hand polished in preparation for the patina.

13. Patination

The bronze is first heated before the chemical patina is applied by an artist. A patina can achieve many different colours or effects depending on the mix of chemicals used.

14. Waxing

Finally a wax coating is hand applied before the piece is polished to ensure a beautiful lustrous patina.

15. Numbering

Finally, the piece is numbered by hand. It is numbered as the casting number, followed by a slash and finally the edition size. For examples, 5/500 means that your piece was the fifth piece to be cast from the master mould out of 500 castings made. The piece also bears the signature of the artist. Sue Maclaurin pieces are marked either Sue Maclaurin, Sue Mac, or with her insignia of an S and small cat face.

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All orders are sent using a tracked, insured, express service.

All in stock items are dispatched the working day after we receive your order. Out of stock items will be dispatched on the date shown on the listing.

UK deliveries – next working day - FREE
UK deliveries are shipped by DPD Local, who will send a one hour window to your mobile or email on the morning of delivery so you don’t have to wait around for your parcel.

We use a next working day service as standard (NI, Highlands and Islands take two working days). If you choose and pay for a Saturday or Sunday delivery when you check out (and order before 6am on a Friday), your order will arrive with you the first Saturday or Sunday after you place your order. If you order after 6am on Friday, your order will arrive one weekend later.

If you are in a rush, or need any special arrangements, please call us on 01442 256290 and we will be delighted to help.

All parcels arrive in plain, unbranded brown cartons to help keep the contents a secret.

Deliveries outside the UK - FREE
Deliveries outside the UK are shipped by TNT, who will email your tracking information to you.

We use an express service that will be delivered on a weekday. Deliveries to Europe, the USA and Canada typically take 2 -3 working days, with other destinations taking 3 – 5 working days.

All parcels arrive in Nelson & Forbes branded shipping packaging when sent overseas.

For full details please see USA Shipping / International Shipping

Reviews

Customer Reviews 12 item(s)

Labrador art

Overall Satisfaction

The sitting labrador we ordered last year was a great purchase. It has very fine details that add to the quality and appearancei of the sculpture. It is a wonderful piece of art which we will enjoy for many years to come. Review by Elizabeth / (Posted on 13/12/2024)

I love them

Overall Satisfaction

Thank you for my grand labrador and bulldog - they arrived today. I love them. Review by Mrs. M.R. (USA) / (Posted on 25/09/2024)

Small but very well sculpted.

Overall Satisfaction

Loved our little Lab. It was gift to my husband shortly after we got our real puppy. Review by Angela / (Posted on 06/07/2023)

Lovely Birthday gift for a friend

Overall Satisfaction

The Labrador sculpture was selected as a gift for a dear friend who owns a black lab. It complements the wild otter sculpture I sent for a previous birthday. She loves the pair of them and was really impressed by the quality and detail of these fine gifts! Such quality! Review by James Thompson / (Posted on 03/11/2021)

Lovely sculpture

Overall Satisfaction

My Labrador arrived on time beautifully packaged. It was a present from our black lab and my husband loved it. Will buy another to join it at a later date. Review by Kay / (Posted on 27/04/2020)

My Sister Loved It

Overall Satisfaction

Hi Debbie, Thank you very much for the sculptures the dog I bought for my sister, who loved it. We bought the fox for us, which is delightful and very heavy, when the lock down has ended, we shall order some more. Review by Mrs. C.H. (New Zealand) / (Posted on 27/04/2020)

Beautiful

Overall Satisfaction

The sculpture was for my partner in Texas who rescues and fosters dogs. She thought it was so beautiful it brought tears to her eyes as she had fostered one who looked exactly the same. Thank you. Review by Brian / (Posted on 25/04/2020)

Beautiful item

Overall Satisfaction

Our friends who we bought the Labrador for absolutely love it. They were over the moon and couldn’t believe the detail in the sculpture. Review by Yvonne / (Posted on 22/01/2019)

Lovely item

Overall Satisfaction

Much appreciated by the recipient as a present that will last a lifetime Review by Haydn / (Posted on 22/01/2019)

Thank you

Overall Satisfaction

A note to thank you for the package which arrived on Friday as promised. Beautifully packaged as always. That’s me set up for Christmas. Review by A.D. / (Posted on 02/02/2017)

Our Labrador

Overall Satisfaction

This sculpture captures our dog the way he is, just wish he had been a bit bigger Review by Simon / (Posted on 02/02/2017)

Stress relief or art?

Overall Satisfaction

I purchased this gorgeous little Labrador sculpture for my husband for Christmas as a gift from his two rather large chocolate labs. The large labs are a wonderful antidote to a stressful life and the small sculpture is proving to be the same. It's fits beautifuly into the palm of his hand and he spends hours holding it whilst on the phone dealing with catastrophes that unfold daily in a large company. It's has already developed some patina and I'm sure itwill continue to become more beautiful over the coming years. Review by Michelle / (Posted on 30/01/2017)

Christmas 2024