Mermaid bowl (wall), bronze
Mermaid bowl (wall), bronze
Quick info
limited, 199 copies | numbered | signed | bronze | chiselled | patinated | size 18 x 34 x 26 cm (h/w/d) | weight approx. 9.2 kg
Detailed description
Mermaid bowl (wall), bronze
Usually, the mermaid enchants the pond in which she lives; this one is her own home and is both a mermaid and a water bowl. Her wide-stretched arms elegantly merge into the bowl's rim, which stands on the floor but can also be mounted on a wall.
Edition in bronze, cast using the Lost-Wax-Process, chiselled and patinated by hand. Limited edition of 199 copies, numbered and signed. Size 18 x 34 x 26 cm (h/w/d). Weight approx. 9.2 kg.

About Maria-Luise Bodirsky
Born in 1952, sculptor and ceramist
It is the basic elements of earth, water, fire and air that the sculptor and ceramist Maria-Luise Bodirsky, born in 1952, combines in her sculptures and the working process. Clay is her elementary artistic means when capturing, tracing and depicting the inner and outer conditions of her figures.
Bodirsky draws inspiration for her archaic-looking figures from the early history of mankind such as Egyptian high culture, Greek mythology and the Old Testament, or from modern literature for example of Pablo Neruda.
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.

Term for an art object (sculpture, installation), which is produced in multiple copies in a limited and numbered edition according to the artist‘s will.
Artist's multiples have been called the most accessible and affordable art on the market.