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Commission a piece

Maceió · Brazil

Saints made
by hand

Kênia Bittencourt models, paints and ages every piece in her own studio. From the first sketch to the last line of gold, it is always the same hand.

Our Lady of Aparecida in plaster, antiqued patina, 30 cm tall

Our Lady of Aparecida, 30 cm, antiqued patina

How a piece is born

Four stages, all in the same studio. None of them outsourced.

The pieces alongside are from the collection, each one in the finish its stage describes.

  1. Pietà in marble dust, antiqued patina, 30 cm tall
    01

    Modelling

    The form starts in clay or modelling paste, with the proportions set to the height the piece will have.

  2. Stylised Holy Family in marble dust, white and gold, 35 cm tall
    02

    Mould making

    A silicone mould is taken from the model, and from the mould comes the piece in plaster, resin or marble dust.

  3. Sacred Heart of Jesus, bust in plaster, polychrome, 35 cm tall
    03

    Polychromy

    The painting is done with a brush, colour over colour. The face is always last and always the slowest.

  4. Our Lady of Aparecida in plaster, antiqued patina, 30 cm tall
    04

    Finishing

    Patina, lines of gold and varnish. This is where the piece gains its age and its shine.

Commission your piece

Tell her the saint, the height and the finish. If you have a reference photo — a family statue, a piece you saw in a church — better still. From there Kênia replies with a lead time and a quote.

Every piece is painted by hand. Small variations in colour between one statue and the next are not a flaw: they are the signature of handwork.

Most requested heights
20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 cm. Above that, on request — the tallest piece in the collection is 1.10 m.
Finishes
Bianco, polychrome, antiqued patina, white and gold, gold leaf, bronzed.
Lead time
On average 20 business days after the quote is approved.
Restoration
Antique family statues, with respect for the original polychromy.
The statue arrived better than in the photographs. The face has a serenity you do not get in a factory piece — and that was what the congregation noticed first.
Pe. Ramon Tavares, Saint Sebastian Parish, Maceió/AL