Neptune/Poseidon bronze door knocker - door beater

The bronze door knocker also know as a "door beater" in other countries was completed using liver of sulphur and ferric nitrate for that patina.

The embedded video shows most of the final steps of the metal chasing a patina application.

For more of my work, please visit claytobronze.com, all future works will be posted there. This will be my last blogspot post.

Wax positive of the Neptune door knocker

Here are a few images and video of the wax positives. The sculpture will not be poured solid due to the thickness. the walls will vary from 1/8" to 1/4" in thickness. The critical areas such as the hinge section, strike section and areas where the threaded rods will anchor the door knocker will vary from 1/2" to 1" in thickness.

The pin section that will serve as the hinge pin will be stainless steel.

Neptune is ready for the foundry

The Neptune sculpture is complete and ready for the foundry. The foundry will create a mold and cast two bronze door knockers for the client. The process will take 10 - 12 weeks.

Scales are added to the dolphins

These images show the scales that were added to the two dolphins. The next step is to give the entire sculpture a wash with terpenoid in order to blend and smooth out the tool marks.

Forming the dolphin fins

These two images show the rough tail and fins. After a few more passes I will add the scales.

Neptune door knocker overall size awaits approval

The door knocker is just about complete. Today I fabricated the hinge and performed a dry run to get an overall idea of the final size. Moreover, I made sure the hinge will allow the Neptune to swing an strike the plate correctly. 

The rough overall size measures as follows: (13.5"h x 12"w x 6.5"d) Please let me know if I need to tweak it. I know the gargoyle depth was within 5 inches. 

The Neptune pose (trident and head) added the extra depth. Once I hear from you I will continue.

Neptune's trident is fabricated from wood

Today I decided to fabricate the trident using wood. I enjoy carving wood; therefore, it was a joy to return to woodworking after a 5 year absence.

The staff I used was from a set of chopsticks I found in the kitchen. The trident was carved/formed from a piece of hard maple.

I used my flex-router with a woodworking bit to carve and form the three prongs.

Wood was used in order to help me keep everything as firm and straight as possible.

Coral and Shells to be used for background

In order to join the two shells and make it one unit I sculpted some coral. I had some blue coral in storage; therefore, I used it as my study. The coral still needs to be detailed.

Neptune gets his cape and background shells

In this session I worked on the cape, sea shells and crown.

Neptune sculpture begins to take shape

I plan to complete the neptune door knocker within two weeks. 

The three images below depict Neptune having the two dolphins and cape fused to the torso. The cape will continue behind the legs. The entire sculpture is still considered rough. Once everything is in place I will revisit the piece and add the detail.