Memorial Statue of Mary with Open Arms – 3D, freestanding, dowel on the bottom

Open arms: a gesture that endures

Some gestures need no explanation. Mary standing with her arms open wide is one of the oldest human expressions of welcome and protection, and in bronze it becomes something you can return to, year after year, without it diminishing.

Cast by the lost-wax method

This statue is made using the traditional lost-wax casting process, known in French as cire perdue. Each piece begins as an individual wax model, which is then used to create a mould for the bronze pour. Once cast, the statue is hand-finished and patinated by a craftsperson. It is a slow method that has not changed in centuries, because nothing faster produces the same quality of surface. The result is not machine-smooth: it carries the subtle texture of hands that worked it deliberately, and that is precisely what makes it feel like a memorial object rather than a mass-produced figure.

What the gesture means

Mary is not depicted here as a remote or elevated figure. Her arms are extended at a human scale, offering space rather than distance. For those whose loved one held a faith, this speaks directly to that connection. For those who did not, the gesture still holds something true: someone is being welcomed, not lost. That is the bond you shared, held in bronze.

Durability and practical reassurance

Bronze has been the material of choice for memorial monuments for centuries, chosen specifically because it outlasts almost everything placed alongside it. Knowing what to expect from it outdoors helps you choose placement with confidence.

How bronze behaves over time

This statue is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, including in a garden or at a graveside. Outdoors, bronze develops a natural patina over time: a grey-green surface change that does not damage the material but actually protects it and deepens its character. If you prefer to keep the original bronze colour, periodic treatment with a bronze-protective wax will maintain it. Bronze is not fragile under normal conditions, and the statue has a dowel on the base to allow secure fixing to a plinth or foundation.

Placement and stability

The statue is freestanding and fully three-dimensional. Indoors, a flat, level surface is sufficient. For outdoor placement, fix it to a stable plinth via the base dowel. This prevents the statue from shifting in wind or in a well-visited outdoor space. A flat, firm foundation is the only practical requirement.

A place for the person you are missing

The figure with open arms already tells a story before any name is added. But if you want this statue to speak specifically about your person, personalisation is available: an engraved plinth or name plate can be added, carrying a name, a date, or a short phrase of your own choosing. That single addition moves the piece from a memorial object to a monument for one particular person.

If you would like to talk through whether this statue suits the setting you have in mind, or to discuss personalisation options, we are happy to help you think it through at whatever pace feels right.