Sculpture "Cartwheeler", bronze

The "Cartwheeler" is considered the oldest tradition of the city of Düsseldorf, Germany, and has become one of its best-known landmarks.
The legend surrounding the origin of the custom dates back to 1288 when Düsseldorf was given city rights after the Battle of Worringen. As a result of the victory, the inhabitants, and especially the children, are said to have been making wheels in the streets out of joy. To this day, international cartwheeling competitions are held every year on Königsallee or the Rheinwerft.

The artist Gisela von Wittich - v. Poncet lives in Düsseldorf. Her bronze cart wheeler symbolises lively joie de vivre: at the moment of maximum tension, the artist captures the movement playfully and with a light touch. Loving details underline the dynamics of the sculpture: the trouser legs that have slipped down, the little jacket that has been thrown up, the little curl that has been turned in or the waving head of curls.

Sculpture made of fine bronze, cast using the Lost-Wax-Process. Patinated and polished by hand. Limited edition 499 copies, numbered and signed. Size 21 x 27 x 9.3 cm (w/h/d), weight 3 kg.

An alloy of copper with other metals (especially with tin) used since ancient times.

When casting bronze, the artist usually applies the lost-wax technique which is dating back more than 5000 years. It's the best, but also the most complex method of producing sculptures.

First, the artist forms a model of his sculpture. It is embedded in a liquid silicone rubber mass. Once the material has solidified, the model is cut out. The liquid wax is poured into the negative mould. After cooling down, the wax cast is removed from the mould, provided with sprues and dipped into ceramic mass. The ceramic mass is hardened in a kiln, whereby the wax flows out (lost mould).

Now we finally have the negative form, into which the 1400° C hot molten bronze is poured. After the bronze had cooled down, the ceramic shell is broken off and the sculpture is revealed.

Now the sprues are removed, the surfaces are polished, patinated and numbered by the artist himself or, to his specifications, by a specialist. Thus, each casting becomes an original work.

For lower-quality bronze castings, the sand casting method is often used which, however, does not achieve the results of a more complex lost-wax technique in terms of surface characteristics and quality.

A plastic work of sculptural art made of wood, stone, ivory, bronze or other metals.

While sculptures from wood, ivory or stone are made directly from the block of material, in bronze casting a working model is prepared at first. Usually, it is made of clay or other easily mouldable materials.

The prime time of sculpture after the Greek and Roman antiquity was the Renaissance. Impressionism gave a new impulse to the sculptural arts. Contemporary artists such as Jorg Immendorf, Andora, and Markus Lupertz also enriched sculptures with outstanding works.

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