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Bronze Dog Sculpture: Golden Retriever by Sue Maclaurin

Bronze Dog Sculpture: Golden Retriever by Sue Maclaurin

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Including VAT: AUD549.02 Excluding VAT: AUD549.02

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Size in cm: 17w x 11h x3d cm
Size in inches: 6¾"w x 4¼"h x 1¼"d
Weight: 960g / 2lb 1¾oz

Edition: 250
Material: Foundry Cast Bronze

The Golden Retriever - soft, loving, friendly and dependable - is one of Britain’s most popular breeds of dog.

As well as its calm and gentle demeanour, the Golden Retriever is also extraordinarily intelligent, making it a fantastic working dog. They excel as sniffer and tracker dogs as well as making excellent assistance dogs in all situations, and have been indispensable as guide dogs for the blind for decades.

Sue Maclaurin’s bronze sculpture of a Golden Retriever captures her subject in all its hairy, gorgeous, happy calmness, for you to enjoy for many years to come. Whether as memory of a dear departed pet, or as a gift for someone who adores their Retriever, this Golden Retriever sculpture is sure to be a gift they will treasure for years.

Hand cast in solid bronze our British foundry as a limited edition of just 250 castings worldwide, this Golden Retriever sculpture arrives beautifully gift boxed, ready to be given as a wonderful gift.

Each casting bears the artist's signature and its own unique edition number, and arrives accompanied by a numbered and artist signed certificate of authenticity.

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 10 item(s)

For lovers of Goldens..

Overall Satisfaction

The bronze arrived timely and well packed. My wife loved it and is displaying it proudly next to her Daum crystal Golden Retriever. Review by Scott (USA) / (Posted on 27/04/20)

These are the real thing

Overall Satisfaction

Dear Debbie,
My Standing Retriever and Standing Springer arrived duly and safely.
I am absolutely delighted with both! The only snag is that they've made even more impatient for my Sitting Springer Spaniel.
They are the real McCoy. Anyone can do those resin and powdered metal things, but these are the real thing, as well as being beautifully sculpted and lifelike.
I shall doubtless be browsing your catalogue in the very near future.
Thanks for your attention, and the excellent service provided by your organisation.
Review by Mr. R.H. / (Posted on 8/02/19)

Beautiful Golden Retriever

Overall Satisfaction

I bought this little beauty as a present for my wife and as a reminder of the golden retrievers we’ve owned, or who’ve owned us, over the years. This is a beautiful piece of work by Sue Maclaurin which captures every essential of the golden retriever. My wife was delighted with the present and the only argument now is over naming her latest miniature treasure. Review by John / (Posted on 27/01/19)

Fab sculpture - so detailed

Overall Satisfaction

As we were picking up our Working Goldie puppy just before Christmas I thought this sculpture would be a fantastic way of marking the occasion and a memorable gift for my wife.

The quality and detail are excellent and the service from Nelson and Forbes exemplary - Thanks Review by Stuart / (Posted on 22/01/19)

Retriever and standing labrador sculptures.

Overall Satisfaction

We purchased one of each of the above bronze sculptures and are delighted with both. The standing labrador is just the spitting image of Kane our current old boy and the retriever brings back memories of our old long departed chum Mac. They are beautifully sculpted and something we will cherish. Review by Jim / (Posted on 22/01/19)

Bronze Golden Retriever

Overall Satisfaction

I am very pleased with my sculpture and the detailing is excellent, it looks very much like my dog ! Review by Rod / (Posted on 15/01/18)

Golden Treasure

Overall Satisfaction

We have been fortunate to have three Goldens in our lives over the last twenty-five years. Sue's sculpture is outstanding, capturing the essence of the breed. The bronze like the dogs will enjoy a special place in our hearts and home. Review by Bill (Canada) / (Posted on 26/09/17)

Simply the Finest

Overall Satisfaction

Even finer than expected and a wonderful reminder of our fall days afield with Trudy, our Golden Retriever. Review by Michael Bazarek, Chicago, IL USA / (Posted on 23/05/17)

BRONZE DOG

Overall Satisfaction

Well pleased with the Golden Retriever bronze - lovely reminder of the 4 'Goldens' we have had over the years. Review by PETER / (Posted on 22/05/17)

Beautiful "Goldie" Sculpture

Overall Satisfaction

This was a surprise present from my husband, to me a Golden Retriever owner. I am lucky enough to have owned Golden Retrievers for the last 12 years. Wow! - Sue Maclaurin what you have achieved is amazing. The sculpture has it all. The "goldie" tail, the leg feathers, the bulky chest fur and the regal head. Well done! I am over the moon with my bronze -it has pride of place in my lounge, and will be treasured for years Review by JaneC / (Posted on 22/05/17)