Cameroonian Bronze Equestrian Figure

Wax, clay, fire. In that order.

That is the lost-wax method: a wax model is encased in clay, melted out and replaced with molten metal. Miniature figures like this were made that way, and mounted riders are a long-favored subject across the region. This small bronze horse and rider comes from Cameroon, 20th century, just under two inches tall.

The horse has a long arching neck, an open mouth and four tapering legs. The rider sits upright with a rounded, textured headdress and a slim body. Patches of pale green verdigris lie over warm brown metal.

The wax is long gone. The rider hasn’t noticed.