Home »
Bronze Dog Sculpture: Staffordshire Bull Terrier by Sue Maclaurin

Bronze Dog Sculpture: Staffordshire Bull Terrier by Sue Maclaurin

Click on above image to view full picture

Only 6 left in stock

Including VAT: $364.93 Excluding VAT: $304.10

Orders for delivery outside of the European VAT zone are not subject to 20% VAT

Qty:

5 Review(s) | Add Your Review

ORDER NOW and it will be dispatched next working day.

Delivery Is Free! How Long Will It Take To Arrive?

* Please Select Destination

Size in cm: 12.5w x 7.5h x 3d cm
Size in inches: 5"w x 3"h x 1¼"d
Weight: 560g / 1lb 4oz

Edition: 250
Material: Foundry Cast Bronze

Sue Maclaurin’s bronze sculpture of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier beautifully captures the strength and power of these dynamic dogs, whilst also showing the gentle, loving and loyal nature of the breed.

The ideal gift for anyone who shares their life with a Staffie, or simply loves the breed, each casting arrives beautifully gift boxed with a signed and numbered certificate of authenticity, ready to be given as a wonderful gift.

This bronze Staffordshire Bull Terrier is cast as a strictly limited edition of just 250 castings, with every casting bearing its own unique edition number. Each casting is also marked with Sue Maclaurin’s mark and our ‘NF’ maker’s mark.

We cast this piece by hand in our British foundry, using the ancient technique of lax wax casting solid bronze. Each casting takes several weeks to create individually and involves the creation of a dedicated mould which is then destroyed. Please note that this sculpture is NOT made of resin/bronze resin!

PLEASE NOTE - This sculpture depicts a male dog. In response to collectors' requests, a female version, within the same limited edition of 250, is also available.

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, 5/250 means that your piece was the fifth piece to be cast from the master mould out of 250 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.

Shipping is FREE everywhere in the world!

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 5 item(s)

Perfect Gift!

Overall Satisfaction

Absolutely perfect - I bought this as a present for my son and daughter-in-law as they have always had Staffies! It is such a good likeness and they love it. The whole presentation/packaging/service was excellent and would certainly purchase from Nelson and Forbes again - thank you for the perfect gift for a special occasion. Review by Gillian / (Posted on 05/07/2023)

Just perfect

Overall Satisfaction

We love our staffy, so it was great to find this bronze sculpture, even if it was half way across the world. Customer service was excellent and delivery was prompt even in these covid difficult times. Packaging and presentation was second to none, as beautifully done. The sculpture is awesome and will sit nicely in our home. Thank you, much appreciated. Review by Bob (Australia) / (Posted on 25/10/2020)

Gorgeous - worth every penny

Overall Satisfaction

Would just like to say how gorgeous is this sculpture. We lost our Staffie last May and my husband kept saying how much he would like a bronze Staffie so I have bought this for his birthday. Thank you so much and I feel it is worth every penny. As it is now hidden away I know that he will love it (if we survive the pandemic!!!!)! Thank you once again. Review by Mrs. L.D. / (Posted on 24/10/2020)

It is really beautiful

Overall Satisfaction

I received my order this afternoon (the Staffordshire Bull Terrier). It is really beautiful – thank you. My husband is an absolute nightmare to buy presents for and I am so grateful that I saw your website because I know that he will really love it. The packaging and delivery were perfect. So thank you again. Review by Mrs. E.H. / (Posted on 08/02/2019)

Staff bull terrier

Overall Satisfaction

This is the second item I have purchased as presents. Well pleased with the item well cast, quite detailed as well.
I bought this as I have always owned staffs so a good buy.
Nelson & Forbs make ideal personal present with a bit of style, Better than average present as also limited and will increase in value someday.
Well presented and boxed with personal certificate.
Plenty of designs to choose from to suit every persons tastes. Review by kenneth / (Posted on 07/07/2018)