A Word About Our Stuff
Our Sculpture is essentially hand made in classic durable materials: cast iron, bronze, and aluminum.
Cast iron is an old, long lived material which, unlike steel, will not dissolve into rusty flakes. The Chinese made huge cast iron pieces 5000 years ago which are still in existence. Cast iron is the stuff of manhole covers and fire hydrants, but also of fine sculpture, as seen especially in nineteenth century Germany.
Bronze, of course, is the classic sculptors metal (not to be confused with bonded bronze, which is powdered metal embedded in plastic resin). We eschew bonded bronze, using nothing but the real thing melted and poured at 1900 to 2300 degrees F. Our alloy is a silicon bronze (95% copper, 4% silicon, and 1% manganese).
We also use aluminum where it is appropriate for weight and color.
Our two basic molding systems are resinbonded sand and ceramic shell investment castingwith lots of variations and combinations. After the molds are broken off each casting, finishing begins with a good deal of meticulous hand grinding, sanding, and polishing. Finally, patinas are applied with heat and chemicals to color and protect raw metals.
Some pieces are done in limited editions, in other words, we guarantee that only a certain number will be produced, e.g. 100. Each piece in that edition is signed by the artist, dated at its conception, and given its own serial number. At that point the pattern from which the molds are made is destroyed (or in the case of loast wax pieces, the rubber mold in which the wax patterns were made is destroyed). So act soon, quantities are guaranteed to be limited!
Other pieces are done in series. No two pieces within a series are alike, but all are similar, made with the same techniques but with significant and obvious differences. Well keep making them as long as theres a demand.
Unique pieces are just that, and for the most part are not featured in this catalog. You are welcome to visit our gallery in Kalona and check out all the one-of-a-kind items on display.
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Check Out Our Catalogue
Corn Grenades
Take a Tour of Our Foundry
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