Limited edition of 9 : edition 9/9 available to order ~ nearly sold out
Created with inspiration from a pioneering open water suffragette female swimmer Lily Smith.
Lily had earned the title of “Champion of all London” before she was 15 years old by virtue of her success in many competitions.
During her sixteenth year she swam for five hours side by side a man, who was at the time attempting to cross the channel. In 1907 Lily Smith (17 years) was the only woman to compete in the first Richmond to Blackfriars race alongside 32 men.
It is undoubtedly true that the development of swimming for women was started in the late nineteenth century with girls like Lily Smith. Lily's endurance feats illustrated one of the small steps that women took “in the journey towards acceptance in the male-dominated recreational sphere”. The early open swimmers were linked to the “new woman” movement, asserting their independence beyond the more restrictive social roles of earlier decades.
It is not just about the act of swimming - it is a celebration of life.
A bronze sculpture stands proudly, as a timeless testament.
Its form, frozen in time, captivates viewers with its intricate details and graceful contours. The rich patina of the bronze surface tells a story of age and endurance, a silent witness to the passage of time.
Each curve and line whispers of the creator's hands, breathing life into the inert metal - whether capturing a moment of triumph, a fleeting emotion, or an eternal truth, the bronze sculpture invites contemplation and reflection, bridging the gap between art and reality.
With its enduring presence, it stands as a symbol of beauty and strengt, transcending generations to inspire awe and admiration for centuries to come.
Mounting options - timber, sandstone, brick, rock, concrete or any solid surface.
always limited edition series
made in UK/Ireland by family foundries with over 95 years experience
certificate of authenticity
Suitable for in or outdoor settings.
Contact Dawn for viewing, payment & delivery options email: hello@dawnconn.com
Lily diving girl
Sculptures can be shipped world wide at cost, no VAT payable on exports outside the UK
Size:
Metric – H: 125 W: 60 D: 40 centimetres (height / width / depth)
Imperial – H: 50 W: 24 D: 16 inches (height / width / depth)
Weight - 55 kgs
Medium: Foundry bronze
Foundry Bronze – refers to the poured molten metal that is cast solid or hollow, depending on size, at a bronze foundry (using the traditional lost wax process). It is more robust and will appreciate in value.
The first stage of making a bronze is to sculpt the original out of clay, plaster or wax. Dawn uses different materials: e-poxy resin / vintage textiles soaked in resin and other reclaimed items. This is built up over a steel and aluminium anatomical skeleton known as an armature.
Over this original sculpture a silicon rubber mould is made to form a negative of the original.
Into the mould molten wax is slushed in and then poured out and allowed to cool, to form a hollow wax positive.
The seam line where the mould fitted together is then worked out and the sculpture cut up into castable sections.
To this a series of wax runners and risers is fitted, and these allow the molten bronze to flow in and the gases to come out. Once the wax is 'sprued up' it is coated inside and out with liquid ceramic and grit built up in layers to form a strong heat-resistant investment around the wax.
This is then baked upside down in an oven allowing the wax to melt out - hence the term 'Cirdu perdue or lost wax.
This forms a negative space of the original into which molten bronze can be poured at 1200°c. Other metals such as gold, silver and stainless steel can be cast using the same method.
When the bronze has cooled, the ceramic shell is chipped away and the sprues cut off. To remove the ceramic from the surface detail the bronze is placed in acid, which breaks down the investment.
If the bronze has been cast in several pieces, it is now welded together and chased. This is a highly skilled process recreating any surface detail.
The sculpture is now ready to be heated up and applied with various chemicals, which form the finished patina/colouration of the bronze.
Production time:
Foundry bronze ~ 8 - 10 weeks upon receipt of deposit