Bronze ancestor statue from West Africa dating from around the middle of the last century.
The sculpture would have been made using the lost-wax method of casting. This means only one unique items can be made from each wax model. The wax model is carefully covered in clay. This is then heated to set the clay and melt the wax. Molten metal is then poured into the clay mould. Once it cools the clay is chipped away, leaving the bronze sculpture.
The sculpture would have been made using the lost-wax method of casting. This means only one unique items can be made from each wax model. The wax model is carefully covered in clay. This is then heated to set the clay and melt the wax. Molten metal is then poured into the clay mould. Once it cools the clay is chipped away, leaving the bronze sculpture.