If you're looking for brass figures from Africa, you might be searching for hand-cast sculptures with a distinct African expression. Our bronze and brass figures are created in Burkina Faso using a lost-wax casting method, where each mold is used only once. This ensures that every figure has its own unique character and subtle variations.
But how does a small figure actually come into being? It's easy to see the finished result and forget all the work that goes into it beforehand. Here, the story doesn't begin with a machine. It begins with the artist's hands and a wax model.
Where do the brass figures come from?
Our bronze and brass art comes from Burkina Faso. On the current product pages, you'll meet artists such as Soré, Hamed Nikiema, Karim Sana, and Hamidou. They practice a traditional craft where the figure is shaped and cast step by step.
The motifs vary. Some figures depict a reading woman, others a woman with water pots, or a woman in a calm yoga pose. What they all have in common is that they are not mass-produced in a uniform series. Each figure passes through the artist's hands, and the final details are completed by hand. This is why you can see small differences from figure to figure.
How are brass figures from Africa cast?
The work begins with the artist shaping the sculpture in wax. The wax figure is then covered with a mixture of clay and manure and left to dry. After that, the mold is fired. The wax melts and drains out through small openings, creating a cavity in the shape of the figure.
The molten metal alloy is poured into the mold, taking the place of the wax. Once the metal has cooled, the mold is broken to release the sculpture. Finally, the artist finishes the details by hand. Thus, the mold cannot simply be reused for the next figure. This is an important part of why each piece becomes unique, even when the motif resembles another.
Why aren't two hand-cast figures exactly alike?
Because both the wax model, the casting, and the final processing involve handiwork. A small difference in a movement, a surface, or a detail can remain in the finished piece. This is not something to be hidden. It is what tells us that the figure was created as a piece of handicraft and not as a completely identical factory product.
Bronze and brass also change their appearance over time and can develop a natural patina. This gives the surface more character and makes the encounter between material and everyday life visible. In our selection of interior items from Africa, the figures therefore pair well with other handmade items where the material is allowed to show signs of life.
How do you choose the figure that suits you?
Don't start by looking for the most perfect figure. Instead, look for the one that makes you pause. Perhaps it's a reading woman, because books mean something in your life. Perhaps it's a yoga woman who reminds you of peace. Or perhaps it's simply a particular pose, color, or movement that you keep returning to.
At Molly's Heart, we believe in trade that creates opportunities, and we work with fair trade principles. At the same time, a figure should of course also have a place in your home. It can stand alone on a shelf or be part of a small group with books, ceramics, or other items you cherish. The most important thing is that you choose with an eye for both the craftsmanship and your own everyday life.
I personally feel happy when an object can open up a larger story. A small figure won't solve the world's problems. But it can remind us of the person behind the craft and that our choices are connected to the work of others.
Thank you for reading.
Sincerely,
Birgitte