Mouse in Conker

A mouse, curled up and fast asleep inside an empty horse chestnut shell. Both pieces are freestanding — and if you turn the mouse over in your palm, the underside has been crafted to look exactly like a tiny conker. It's that kind of piece.

At 1cm tall and weighing 9 grams, the mouse is quite possibly the smallest thing David Meredith has ever cast in solid bronze. The pictures with fingers in are worth a close look — nothing quite prepares you for how small this is in real life.

Horse chestnut shell: Height 2cm • Width 2.5cm • Depth 3.8cm Mouse: Height 1cm • Width 1.3cm • Depth 1.3cm

Please note that all our tiny bronzes are cast and finished by hand. This may mean that there are slight differences in the colour of the patina, and sometimes you may find small inconsistencies in the cast, e.g. a minuscule air bubble or slight abrasion marks where the finished castings have been fettled (filed). These differences won't detract from the beauty of your miniature sculpture; if anything they will show, without a doubt, that these pieces are all individually handmade.

Miniature Bronze Sculpture FAQs

How should I keep my miniature bronze sculpture in tip top condition?

These miniature bronze sculptures are so easy to care for: they have been given a dark brown wax coating over their natural brassy colour, and will need nothing more than a gentle wipe with a soft cloth to keep the dust off.

What's the difference between foundry-cast and hot-cast?

Absolutely nothing. They're two different terms for the same thing: molten bronze is poured into a mould and left to cool before being removed, when the resulting sculpture is then finished and patinated.

What about cold-cast, is that the same?

No, cold-casting is a different method, in which bronze powder is mixed with resin and poured into a moud to set, effectively creating a faux bronze sculpture. There is no heat involved, and the finished product is significantly lighter (and cheaper) than a foundry-cast bronze piece. At Alcove Art, all of our pieces are foundry-cast.

All images © 2026 Gill Pottle