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.

Producer: ars mundi Edition Max Büchner GmbH, Bödekerstraße 13, 30161 Hanover, Germany Email: info@arsmundi.de

An alloy of copper with other metals (especially with tin) used since ancient times. It is an ideal metal for high-quality artistic castings, capable of enduring for millennia.

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

First, the artist forms a model of their work. This model is embedded in a liquid silicone rubber mass. Once the material has solidified, the model is cut out, leaving a negative mould. Liquid wax is then 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, where the wax melts away (lost mould).

Finally, the negative mould is ready, into which the 1400° C hot molten bronze is poured. After the bronze had cooled down, the ceramic shell is broken apart, reavoling the sculpture.

Next, the sprues are removed, the surfaces are polished, patinated and numbered by the artist or by a specialist, following their instructions. Thus, each casting is 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 elaborate 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 made of wood, ivory, or stone are carved directly from the material block, 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.