Rayner Hoff's Norman Lindsay Bust c.1930
Odana Editions in conjunction with the Josef Lebovic Gallery
Norman Lindsay's Bookends are the first release in a series of fine bronze castings from Australian artists' original plaster work.

FIRST RELEASE: 1 June 2000 (available until 29.6.00) busts
$9,500 (Edition no.s 11-40 includes book)
SECOND RELEASE: 1 July 2000 (available until 45 sold) busts
$15,000 (Edition no.s 41-55 includes book)
THIRD RELEASE: After 45 sold (until edition sold out) busts
$20,000 (Edition no.s 56-60 includes book)

SHIPPING: ex Meridian Foundry, Melbourne
Prices for the Bookends are inclusive of shipping.

Josef Lebovic & Lin Bloomfield hold an exclusive licence to cast the works of Norman Lindsay.

Please direct any enquiries to:
Josef Lebovic Gallery
34 Paddington Street, Paddington, NSW 2021.
Tel: (02) 9332 1840. Fax: (02) 9331 7431. Intl: (+61-2)

Enquiries & payments may also be made to:
Odana Editions, P.O. Box 400, Bungendore, NSW 2621. Tel: (02) 6238 0720 Fax: (02) 6238 0725.
Email: askus@odanaonline.com Website: www.odanaonline.com

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It is fitting that we are launching this series with works by Rayner Hoff (1894-1938) and Norman Lindsay (1879-1969). They were closely associated during the 1920s at the height of their careers. They shared several beliefs including the view that feminine energy was the fuel necessary for the regeneration of a creative life-force. Hoff was often as outspoken on outmoded social customs as was Lindsay.

Rayner Hoff was the most pre-eminent sculptor in Australia between the wars, not only for his own output but also for his importance as a teacher of sculptors such as Lyndon Dadswell, Barbara Tribe and Jean Norton Broome, amongst others. His legacy of fine public sculpture, noted for its classic depiction of heroism, is exemplified in the Anzac Memorials in Sydney and Adelaide.

At the time Hoff and Lindsay were producing sculpture, Australian sculptors had to send their work abroad for casting. The cost was prohibitive, and so few artists ever saw their work cast in bronze during their lifetime. Today there are several fine Australian foundries.

We have chosen Melbourne foundry, Meridian, to produce our sculpture editions. Meridian has been operating for 27 years and is the largest lost-wax foundry in Australia, with wide experience in producing high quality work for many artists.

Traditionally sculpture has been produced either as a single piece or in very small editions. As such, it has been difficult for collectors to acquire sculpture at an affordable price. We believe that by casting in larger editions more people will be able to own a fine piece of sculpture. The process of producing these bronzes ensures that the quality remains uniformly high throughout the whole edition.

Bronze casting, one of the oldest methods of reproduction, has remained essentially unchanged since the Renaissance. First, a silicon rubber mould is made directly from the original plaster (see above). A wax cast is then made from this mould and a wax "runner & riser" system is attached to it. The wax is then covered with a refactory, a plaster and water mix that is built up layer by layer until the shell is cylindrical in shape. This is kiln-fired for 48 hours to drive off water and "burn out" the wax. Molten bronze is then poured into the wax cavity. Imperfections in the castings are hand-finished. Finally the patina, a multi-layered chemical process which affects the colour of the finished bronze, is applied.

We are proud to offer discerning collectors this chance to acquire bronze sculptures by two artists from Australia's rich cultural heritage.