Reclining Figure: Bunched
- Artist: Henry Moore OM, CH
- Date: 1961, cast 1961–2
- Medium: Bronze on stone base
- Dimensions: object: 130 x 166 x 93 mm
- Museum: Tate Britain
- Collection record: Tate Britain website
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About this artwork
This is “Reclining Figure: Bunched” by Henry Moore, cast in 1961–2 as part of an edition of nine bronze models on a stone base. The work grew out of small maquettes that Moore made from the mid‑1950s onward; he would hold the tiny figure in his hand and see every angle before enlarging it into life‑size form. Each cast was finished by hand: after the bronze was poured, the artist treated it with acids to produce different patinas, then rubbed and worn down to give a subtle, soft edge.
The figure’s undulating shape echoes natural forms—pebbles, driftwood—and its reclined posture lets it seem free yet stable on any surface. Moore’s process shows how he moved from stone carving to small metal models before final casting, keeping the monumentality of large sculpture alive in miniature form. The bronze patina is distinctive: some areas are polished, others darker or greener, reflecting his personal touch.
Presented by Gustav and Elly Kahnweiler in 1974, this cast was accessioned in 1994. It remains a clear example of Moore’s exploration of natural shapes and his unique hands‑on patination technique.
See it in person
Reclining Figure: Bunched is in the collection of Tate Britain on Millbank, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
