African Art Bronze sculpture Reading woman - Burkina Faso

Bronze has been cast in Burkina Faso for centuries; it is an old, traditional and important craft.
The art of bronze casting is not learned in a school, but the craft is handed down - usually within a family - from teacher to student. This mainly concerns male bronze casters belonging to the Djermée tribe.

 

The sculptures are made according to the so-called "lost wax" technique. The original sculpture is made from wax, which is covered with clay. The clay is then fired, causing the wax to melt and drip out of the mold. the mold for the image, which is then filled with source.The resulting image is partly frosted with copper oxide, which creates the beautiful color.

 

Behind your beautiful new acquisition is a good cause! The bronze artists are affiliated with Coöperatie Ouagadougou, which brings together different craftsmen to make products for the international market, among others. The cooperative combines crafts and craftsmanship and stimulates collaboration, innovation and quality improvement. They do this, among other things, by working together with Tahoua, which purchases the works of art according to the Fair Trade principle. This is desperately needed in a society where there is little industrial development and where unemployment is high. As a result, the artisans and their families in Burkina Faso have a better life. Burkina Faso (literally translated: 'the land of the sincere people') lies partly in the Sahara Strip and is 7 times the size of the Netherlands. About 17 million people live there.