The Fairy Horse

"..the horse raced down the claddagh and leapt into the waves. It seemed to be so light that it passed over the water as if the water were sand, so fast that it was like a falcon after her prey, and they soon arrived at a beautiful island, where there was no pain or sorrow, where earth and sea fed the people, and where Niamh’s parents welcomed Oisin as a son."

Bronze sculpture by Charlie Mallon

The Inspiration

Embarr was the horse of Manannan Mac Lir, the Celtic god of the sea.  It carried Niamh across the sea from Tir Nan Og where she met Oisin, son of Fionn mac Cumhaill. Oisin returned with Niamh to Tir Nan Og.

Three hundred years later Embarr carried Oisin back to the land of men.

Oisin was regarded a great poet and there are many legends about him in both early Irish and Scottish texts. His grave is said to be in Glenalmond, and also in Cushendall.

The Process

Each sculpture has been created using the ancient lost wax method of bronze casting, also known as 'cire perdu'. It takes the best part of a year to bring a piece to life. 

Charlie first creates the work in clay.  From this, he takes a mould which is used to create a wax version of the sculpture. He adds sprues, risers and pouring points to ensure that the bronze can flow fully around the piece. Layers of molochite are built up around the wax. When a suitable depth has been achieved Charlie heats the molochite shell to melt out the wax. The now hollow shell is placed in sand with just the pouring point visible. The sand holds it in place and also provides protection in case the shell breaks during the pour. Charlie heats the bronze to around 1200 degrees Celsius in a furnace he built himself. Before the hot work begins he rehearses all the movements, ‘the dance of the pour’. The molten bronze is poured into the shell and once cooled, the shell is smashed open to reveal the bronze sculpture. 

A unique patina is developed by burying the newly cast bronze in the iron rich soil by a spa well on the farm in County Tyrone. 

Each bronze sculpture is presented in wooden box with a handmade Irish linen bag. It has its edition number discreetly stamped on the base, and the details of each purchase are written into our Owner's Register.

Limited edition of 12.