Since ancient times, bronze has been used by highly skilled craftsmen to create sculptures. BULL & STEIN has become part of this old tradition to create a unique bronze apple in search of the beauty.

Using the traditional technique of "Lost Wax Casting” we create a unique piece, released by breaking the mould which is then polished and patinated by hand in a complex process to create an expressive and impressive bronze sculpture.

A bronze apple is a permanent, immortal work, witness to generations and centuries.

Brazilian artist Lisa Pappon has long dreamed of casting her famous ceramic apple sculptures in bronze. "I am delighted because thanks to this solid material, my objects will stand the test of time and age," says Lisa Pappon. "For me apples are a symbol of love for our world."

Much more than a decorative object, the bronze apple is a living sculpture that changes constantly (explain patina, oxidation) according to the sunlight, the wind and the rain. It is an apple for eternity!

Bronze contains 96% copper and 4% tin approx. Both are semi-precious metals; their prices fluctuate according to world-market prices – like gold and silver. Price corrections according to world-market prices of precious metals are possible.

 Bronze contains 88% copper and 12% tin. Copper oxidates and thus greenish patina grows naturally on the sculptures’ surface with time and humidity.

BULL & STEIN is proud to present its new collection of glass apples„

Transparences” – sparkling and bright, hand-blown, apple shaped sculptures. In her latest creation, the Brazilian artist, Lisa Pappon, has inspired herself from the beauty and magic of a glacial universe, fairylike and extraterrestrial.

The craquelure technique gives the object its icy and crystal-like aspect.

The apple-shaped „Transparences“ artwork reflects the ambient light, like a Diamond, so delicate and fragile, we admire and handle it like the most precious jewel on Earth – fearing that it could melt and disappear before our eyes.

Unique and eternal, like a gem.

Please note that BULL & STEIN glass apple sculptures are mouth-blown in coloured glass and are hence unique. Every sculpture has its own character and may vary in shape and tone from the printed image.

Porcelain is fired at a higher temperature (1.300 degrees Celsius) the material has more density and is considered to be finer and more precious than ceramics. It is very difficult to make a bigger variety of colour-glazes on porcelain bodies. We offer only 4 colours:

bordeaux, jade, midnight blue and NEW: green (see attached first atelier photo of green porcelain apples, we are extremely happy with this beautiful new edition).

The porcelain pieces are more suitable for outdoor than the ceramic pieces, because less humidity (water) can enter into the material due to its density.

"Faience" is originally French derived from the Italian city of Faenza in the 16th century for a sub-section of artisan-made ceramics.

The specific character of faience results from the growing fascination for Chinese porcelain that was invading European markets at the time. Chinese porcelain was first exported to Europe in quantity by Portuguese traders in the 16th century.

The production of earthenware in Portugal dates back to the so-called malegueira ware, production which is documented in Lisbon in the 16th century associated with Andalusian craftsmen. Faience is a form of white ceramic, which has a ceramic mass less rich in kaolin than porcelain and is associated with more plastic clays. It is fired at a lower temperature than porcelain, which is fired at 1.250-1.300 degrees Celsius. It is less dense than porcelain and absorbs more water.

Kaolin, also known as China clay, porcelain clay or white clay, is a fine soft white clay, resulting from the natural decomposition of other clays or feldspar. It is used for making porcelain and faience. Both porcelain and earthenware are made following the same processing stages, with modifications in the raw materials and the parameters applied. After firing, faience presents a lightly coloured body, which can be covered in a second firing with rich colourful glazes and engobes.

Ceramic is fired at temperatures between 960 and 1.080 degrees Celsius, depending on the colour of the glaze. The glaze usually has fine cracks, sometimes invisible, sometimes visible. It can also be placed outdoors, but if it freezes, the glaze can chip-off. A very large colour variety is possible in ceramics.

We designed fibre-resin objects for 2 reasons: The clients were demanding ever bigger pieces, but the kilns for ceramic-firing are not big enough for pieces bigger than 75cm. Therefore, all big pieces are made of fibre resin. Also, the big pieces are usually placed outdoors, and in many countries, there is a lot of humidity (heavy rain) and snow and ice in winter, so the objects need to be stable for permanent outdoor use. Fibre resin is the material used also for boats and yachts. It cannot be glazed (fired in the kiln), because it would melt. So, these objects are painted and varnished with very high-quality paints, often from the automobile industry.

ARTIST EDITION BY BRUNO | Fully artist-graffitied by sprayer Bruno, Porto. Each object is one of a kind.

Custom tags like logo, name, symbol, etc. available on demand for additional fee.

Bruno is a Portuguese graffiti artist. He started his adventure in this artistic style in 2005 when he first noticed graffiti on public transport - especially trains - which made this new concept of art appear like a moving gallery.

When Bruno paints, he wants to transmit art without limits, to express freedom and a world of colours. His art is influenced by graffiti, tattoos and Arabic calligraphy.

BULL & STEIN was looking for a different style of painting in his its sculptural pieces (objects) and became interested in Bruno’s work. The goal was to show the essence of urban graffiti in (on) organic pieces, which in this case were fruit.

The pieces of art had an immediate and great acceptance among the public. “Graffiti is a very necessary art form in the decoration of cities. There are many events associated with graffiti and street art and it’s up to us artists to take art to another level” says Bruno Jorge Monteiro.

The colours (colour scheme) that were chosen for the different pieces are warm and vibrant to favour the colourful explosion and the impact of the graffiti.

The sculptures are made of fibre-resin or ceramic and are shaped like fruits. Their striking look makes them ideal pieces to be protagonists both indoors and outdoors.

Surreal, Lisa Pappon’s velvet-matte sculpture apples stand between heaven and earth. Select natural pigments of finest quality are the basis for handmade colours such as porcelain white, lapis-lazuli blue or the ultimate black, and carry the sculptures away from human realm to far and distant grounds of mystery. These magical colours dissipate dreams in oblivion and take them to a timeless dimension. Irresistible and mesmerizing, sheer potence of nature‘s gifts!

Aurora Borealis, the “terrible beauty” commonly known as Northern Light, have been variously interpreted across cultures. In some folklore, they are seen as the spirits of ancestors, and myths and legends about the Aurora are present in many cultures.

In unreachable, icy regions even farther than Iceland, the Aurora would be casting a magical glow over the golden halls of Valhalla, a mythological realm within Asgard as an otherworldly touch to the mythological landscape.

Silhouettes of souls ever to walk aimlessly the path to the sky, they have three colours, they’re called Northern Lights - the bridge between heaven and earth.

They make the dreams that you dream!