Bronze garden sculptures
Handcrafted literary figures for outdoor spaces. Modelled in clay, cast by the lost-wax process and finished by hand in the South West of England, our sculptures turn classic storybook characters into garden centrepieces that inspire and enchant.
A cast of Lewis Carroll favourites
Kenneth Grahame's countryside creations
From Peter Rabbit to Jemima Puddle-Duck
Cicely Mary Barker's enchanting creations
From Hundred Acre Wood to your garden
From the British cartoonist Norman Thelwell
Handcrafted in England
Every piece begins as a clay sculpture, modelled faithfully on the original literary illustration. Cast in our West Country studio, our sculptures are built for the outdoors and develop a beautiful natural patina over time.
Hot or Cold Casting?
A hot cast bronze sculpture is built with a sense of permanence in mind. Using ancient techniques that have survived for thousands of years, it’s an investment for your garden that will last generations.
Free UK Delivery
There is no additional delivery charge for orders made within the United Kingdom mainland. Alternatively, you can contact us to arrange a collection from our Gallery and Workshop here in the West Country.
Character Spotlight: Alice in Wonderland
Curiouser and Curiouser
"It would be so nice if something made sense for a change."
Step through the looking glass and into the garden. Our Alice sculpture perfectly captures the sense of wonder etched across our hero's face during her adventures. Taking pride of place in your garden throughout the year, a stunning handcrafted outdoor feature that will captivate, fascinate and enchant...
Modelled on the original Sir John Tenniel illustrations.
Character Spotlight: Peter Rabbit
Mischief in the Vegetable Patch
"First he ate some lettuces and some French beans; and then he ate some radishes."
Beatrix Potter’s most famous, mischievous creation, Peter Rabbit, caught in a moment of triumph, enjoying stolen spoils before being caught by Mr McGregor. A perfectly sized sculpture for a patio step, beside a planter, or nestled amongst your borders and vegetable patches.
Officially licensed by Frederick Warne & Co.
Character Spotlight: Winnie the Pooh
A Bear of Very Little Brain
"Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart"
Bring Hundred Acre Wood into your own garden. Undoubtedly one of children’s literature’s most beloved characters, Winnie the Pooh, captured mid-stroll, in a quiet moment of contemplation. Our bronze sculpture will sit perfectly on a sun-baked patio or nestled beneath a favourite old tree.
Modeled on the original E.H. Shepard illustrations.
Testimonial
“Wonderful quality, craftsmanship and customer service”
“During a visit to the Hampton Court Flower Show, I finally got to see some of the exquisite creations of the Robert James Workshop. I stood amazed at the vision of the Queen of Hearts towering amongst the greenery, and was instantly transported into my favourite book, Alice in Wonderland."
“Wonderful quality, craftsmanship and customer service. I know I will be buying from them again as I have my eye on the very cheeky Cheshire Cat.”
The complete range
All Bronze Garden Sculptures
FAQs
Answers to common questions about Garden Sculptures
How do I choose between hot cast and cold cast bronze?
Hot cast is traditional poured bronze and is generally the best choice for year-round outdoor placement. Cold cast is a bronze resin composite, lighter and more sensitive to knocks and extreme conditions. If you are deciding, start with our guide, and we can talk you through what suits your setting.
How long do bronze garden sculptures take to make?
Because each piece is handmade to order, hot cast bronze typically takes 12 to 20 weeks and cold cast bronze typically takes 6 to 10 weeks.
Do you deliver internationally?
Yes. We regularly ship worldwide and can discuss options for your location, or you can select “Overseas” at checkout and the team will follow up.
Can you leave a bronze statue outside?
Yes. Hot cast bronze is well-suited to outdoor life, and both materials will develop character over time. The key is sensible siting, avoiding obvious hazards, and simple care if you want to keep the surface looking a certain way.
Why are hot cast sculptures more expensive?
A hot cast bronze sculpture, the more expensive method, uses an ancient process which dates back many thousands of years. It involves creating a hollow wax image of the sculpture which is coated in a thick ceramic layer over a number of months.
By choosing a hot cast bronze sculpture, instead of a cold cast bronze sculpture, you can guarantee it will last generations—whether indoors or outside in the elements.
How long will bronze last outdoors?
A bronze garden sculpture will last a lifetime, and many generations after you. The natural properties of bronze mean your sculpture is incredibly robust and protected against the elements.
How do you protect a bronze statue outside?
Although a hot cast bronze garden sculpture is incredibly robust, you need to be a little more careful with your placement of cold cast sculptures as they will not withstand any kind of blunt impact. Position your cold cast sculpture away from older trees or anywhere it’s likely to topple over onto a hard surface.
How do you take care of a bronze statue?
Cold cast bronze resin castings will ‘weather’ like bronze, developing a verdigris patina if left alone. To retain their radiance, we recommend a neutral wax coating at least twice a year. The highly polished areas can be restored by using a metal polish and a buff up.
The environment your bronze is placed in will also affect the surface quality. Salty air, bird excrement, plants and trees which produce certain saps, all these substances can change the look of the bronze.
Cold cast bronze resin sculptures are not as robust as hot cast bronze, so please take this into consideration when handling them. Always choose a solid part of the sculpture when lifting, avoiding the thinner and more vulnerable areas, or other protruding parts.
For hotter climates or in extreme heat, consider removing them from direct sunlight.
How do you keep bronze from turning green?
Because of the high copper content in hot cast bronze and cold cast bronze sculptures, they will eventually develop a beautiful verdigris patina. The `living surface’ will change over time to create a stunning natural green aesthetic. If you’d like to slow down this organic process, you can apply a neutral wax.
What is bronze made from?
Bronze is made up of copper and tin; sometimes other elements, such as phosphorus or aluminium, are added in.
How can you tell the quality of a bronze garden sculpture?
As well as feel the weight and innate solidity of your bronze sculpture, you can also visually see the mirror finish. While metals are usually shiny, non-metals generally have a dull appearance. Meanwhile, older bronze pieces will develop a warm, rich patina on the surface.
There should not be white, crusty film or white dust on any part of the bronze sculpture. This is a sure sign that the piece is not genuine bronze. It’s also possible to use a plastic magnet to test the quality of your bronze sculpture. As magnets are attracted to ferrous metals such as cast iron, if your magnet sticks, you can be sure that it’s not the real thing.
You can also perform a simple tap test to check the quality of the bronze. If you strike a hollow area of the sculpture with a wooden dowel, genuine bronze will produce a satisfying ring, confirming its authenticity.
Is there a weight difference between hot and cold cast bronze?
As a hot cast sculpture uses pure molten bronze, as opposed to a bronze resin composite, the weight difference, and, in turn, the robustness, is considerable. It’s also worth noting that due to the difference in the casting process, there are some subtle differences in size between the two sculptures. An Alice in Wonderland garden sculpture in hot cast bronze, for example, will be approximately 3% smaller than its cold cast counterpart. The process of making both hot and cold cast bronze sculptures is fascinating.
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Experience the magic of the workshop at your own pace. Request our complimentary brochure to explore the full collection of bronze water features, sculptures, and their stories.
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