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Bronze Mouse Sculpture: Sitting Mouse Maquette by Sue Maclaurin

Bronze Mouse Sculpture: Sitting Mouse Maquette by Sue Maclaurin

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Including VAT: $140.76 Excluding VAT: $117.30

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Size in cm: 5w x 4.5h x 3d cm
Size in inches: 2"w x 1¾"h x 1¼"d
Weight: 120g / 4½oz

Edition: 500
Material: Foundry Cast Bronze

This Sue Maclaurin bronze sculpture, 'Sitting Mouse 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.

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.

Reviews

Customer Reviews 6 item(s)

Excellent Bronze pieces.

Overall Satisfaction

Great sculpture. Addition to the bronze squirrel. We have a lovely collection of bronze pieces that date from 19th century. These small piece complement our collection. Looking forward to purchasing the reclining Hare soon.
Excellent service and prompt shipping to Canada.
Good selection of pieces to choose from.
Highly recommend. Review by Marlene (Canada) / (Posted on 26/05/2024)

Perfect

Overall Satisfaction

Little bronze mouse was the perfect wedding anniversary gift.
Beautiful piece that sits on the bedside table. Arrived to Australia promptly and safely. Review by Fiona (Australia) / (Posted on 07/07/2023)

Gorgeous Little Mouse

Overall Satisfaction

The bronze mouse was just divine! I chose the mouse as a gift for my child’s teacher - it is a perfectly charming little character to sit on a teacher’s desk and for the children to hold and engage with. The whole class fell in love with it. Review by Julie / (Posted on 22/01/2019)

Mouse

Overall Satisfaction

I bought this mouse as a gift for my brother who loved it so much he ordered another one.The mouse is beautifully sculpted and is perfect as a quirky interesting piece to pop anywhere in the home as a conversation piece either on a bookcase,mantelpiece or on a kitchen dresser.Perfect. Review by Lorraine / (Posted on 04/04/2018)

Stunning

Overall Satisfaction

The personality of the mouse and the fact that it's near life size makes it a perfect way to start a collection of bronzes. It's a simply charming piece. Review by Jacob / (Posted on 16/01/2018)

Genuinely and truly delighted.

Overall Satisfaction

I write to thank you for the very prompt delivery and beautiful packaging of the little bronze mouse I ordered by phone. The recipient was genuinely and truly delighted.
Thank you so much. Review by A.D. / (Posted on 02/02/2017)