I am making another another western stallion piece in my amethyst and bronze sculpture series.

Some time ago I was fortunate to acquire a new amethyst geode from Sidi Rahal that is spectacularly intricate. It is fragile. I cut off the bottom so as to make a base for mounting the stone. I then set three pins into the base to secure the stone to a walnut base.

I had thought to place the stone on a cherry base and mount a bronze stallion in front of the 12 inch round cherry blank with bronze case flowers coming out from the amethyst geode, but on reflection this really didn’t work. The cherry base was too small.

I have since abandoned this idea. I will now use the flowers in a different sculpture and instead place the stallion inside the geode. This new work caused me to think of the name “Encased Stallion” as the stallion appears to be enveloped by the geode.

The walnut base was cut from a four foot long 13 inch wide slab that I purchased. Holes are drilled to mount the pinned geode and bronze stallion.

This piece is now finished, except for final treatment of the walnut base and applying a patina to the stallion mane and tail. I think I will leave the stallion highly polished, as shown. I am not particularly fond of traditional dark liver of sulphur patinas applied to most bronze sculpture. Patina, although it can show pinholes and other flaws, can also be used to hide casting flaws and other detail in the metal casting.

The polished stallion weighs about 550 grams. The amethyst geode weighs about 5 kilograms.