When you're looking for brass figures from Africa, the motif and size are the most important choices. Start with the figure you'd like to look at every day. Then check the measurements against the shelf, table, or windowsill. Color and seated or standing form come next, once the space is determined.
I think small figures have something special. They don't require an entire room, but they can still change the mood on a shelf. And no, you don't need to know a specific symbolism to choose correctly. You're welcome to choose with your eyes and heart.
Which motif should you choose?
Our current selection includes women in yoga poses, seated women, reading women, women with books, and women with water jars, among others. The motifs are diverse, but we don't invent a fixed meaning for them. A book doesn't have to symbolize anything specific, and a yoga pose doesn't have to tell the same story in every home.
Instead, ask yourself what you actually notice. Is it the tranquility in a seated figure, the movement in a standing figure, or the small recognizable detail in a book or a jar? This is often a better choice than looking for an undocumented explanation.
In Molly's Heart's collection of bronze and brass art, you can see the current motifs gathered. The stock changes, so the collection is the safest place to start.
How do you choose the right size?
Start with the spot where the figure will stand. Measure both the free height and the space the figure has around it. A small yoga sculpture of about 9 to 10 centimeters can fit on a smaller shelf. A seated figure around 15 centimeters requires a different surface because the body and legs are distributed differently than on a standing figure.
Therefore, don't just look at the height. A hat, a book, or a seated posture can make the silhouette wider. If the figure is to stand between books, measure the opening. If it's to stand on a table, view it from the angle you normally sit at.
I usually think of air around the figure as part of the choice. A small figure can disappear among many things, while a larger figure can seem heavy if it's too cramped. At Molly's Heart, we provide measurements on the product pages when available.
What should you know about bronze and brass?
Bronze and brass are different metal alloys. Our current product titles primarily use the term bronze sculpture, while the collection gathers art in both bronze and brass. Therefore, if the metal is important for your choice, you should always refer to the individual product description.
The sculptures we refer to here are hand-cast in Burkina Faso using the lost-wax method. The artist first shapes the figure in wax. The mold is covered and fired, causing the wax to melt out. Then the molten metal alloy is poured into the mold, and the final details are finished by hand. This process means that each piece can have its own unique expression.
It is precisely these small differences that I appreciate. They don't tell a fabricated story, but they show that a human hand has worked on the form. Read more about our production.
How does the figure find a peaceful place in the home?
First, choose one surface. It can be a shelf, a side table, or a chest of drawers. Let the figure stand with some distance from other items so the motif is easy to see. A black or gold-colored surface can create contrast against a light background, while a mint green detail can interact with colors you already have in the room.
You don't need to build a perfect arrangement. Try the figure alone first. Then perhaps add a book, a small bowl, or a plant if there's still peace around it. It's also a good idea to view the placement in both daylight and in the evening.
Molly's Heart has several handmade items for the home in our interior collection. But the figure doesn't need to be matched with anything specific. The most important thing is that you continue to enjoy looking at it.
Thank you for choosing craftsmanship with a visible human touch behind it.
Warm regards,
Birgitte