Cecilia Moore's current work combines all the elements of her training
in sculpture and metalwork to focus on "raising" an ancient,
near-obsolete process of hammering a flat disc of metal to create hollow
sculptural forms. It could perhaps be produced using mechanical means,
but this slow, physically demanding technique becomes a ritual between
the metal, hammer and maker and is the deliberate act of art-making that
is central to this work. Pieces are formed from copper, bronze,
copper-based alloys, silver and often incorporates found objects and
used metal parts. Surfaces are textured by a variety of methods from
etching, to engraving to hammering pieces on pitted welding tables. The
forms and parts always seem to wander from their initial sketched
design, before decisions can be pinned down and the parts fitted and
soldered together, the colour patinas too evolve and change. This method
of working intuitively is far slower, but as a result each piece is
unique and a joy to make and own.

We love this new piece for Collect called “Butter me up” named after a metal butter dish Cecilia was given decades ago and the title is a nod to the excess supplies of butter in the 70s and 80s due to EU excess food production. The pineapple on top was the top of the lid and she felt it needed a more appropriate and elegant life, transformed and renewed after 30 years in a cupboard.