Three Life-Size Sztum Horse Sculptures

Hand-modelled clay originals, metal casting, antique bronze patina

This group of three life-size Sztum horses was conceived, modelled and executed entirely in the Kostylo Atelier. The process began with initial sketches defining posture, movement and spatial relationships between the figures. After approval, full clay models were built by hand, allowing the anatomy and proportions of the breed to be resolved through successive stages of sculptural refinement.

Each model was then cast in metal within the same atelier. The surfaces were shaped, corrected and finished manually, followed by grinding and the application of an antique bronze patina. The patina introduces tonal depth and emphasizes the volume of the forms while maintaining clarity of silhouette from multiple viewpoints.

The sculptures were developed in consultation with equine specialists to ensure accuracy in the representation of the Sztum breed. The stance, musculature and characteristic mass of the horses were treated as primary compositional elements. Realizations of this scale and natural posture remain uncommon in contemporary sculptural practice, placing the group within a narrow category of full-size equine works.

The project draws from 19th-century foundry and metalworking traditions, interpreted through contemporary craft discipline. Executed from sketch to final patinated form in a single workshop, the sculptures function both as independent objects and as a collective study of movement, presence and equine structure.