Acanthus Leaf Brass Relief
Hand-crafted from model to final cast in the Kostylo Atelier
This brass relief, created on special commission, was designed, modelled and finished entirely in the Kostylo Atelier. The composition is built around a sculptural acanthus leaf motif – a classical ornamental form interpreted through traditional metalworking techniques.
The relief was formed from solid brass, shaped and chased by hand. Each curve of the acanthus leaf, each fold and contour of the ornament, was modelled manually, giving the piece a depth and clarity characteristic of workshop-crafted metal sculpture. The background surface was created using a fully hand-hammered texture, applied with punches and hammers in a slow, rhythmic process that builds the dense, shimmering structure visible across the panel.
The final photographs show the completed relief with its polished highlights and deep shadows, while the earlier images document the work in progress: the raw brass surface, the emerging ornament, and the moment in which the background texture is being struck into the metal. These marks – each one placed individually – form the foundation for the patination stage, during which the relief will be brought to a dignified, aged bronze tone.
The piece represents a complete atelier process: from initial modelling, through manual forming and chasing, to the preparation for patination. It stands as an example of classical decorative metalwork executed with contemporary precision and traditional discipline.
Entirely handmade in the Kostylo Atelier.
