Road kills, prey brought home by her cats, dead presents from friends or people who know about her art, digging up buried pets and even a left over from a nice meal, it’s all material for Nathalie’s art.
Once the bones from different animals are harvested and cleaned, they are carefully pieced together to create a new creature. Most of the creature is gilded with 24 carat gold leaf, still some parts remain visible.
The sculptures are all well protected in their custom-made glass cubes. In there they stand on a mirror with nibbled edges. The mirror reflects a nice soft light and provides an extra incandescent light to the sculptures.
See how Nathalie shows the dismembering of a dead stork to retrieve the bones for her creations. Learn more >
Nathalie creates characters with a strong and powerful attitude. The sculptures look self-evident like not yet discovered species, each with its own character. During the build she imagines the story behind the sculpture. How and where did it potentially live and what does it represent in this day and age?
You can read the descriptions below, that Nathalie made for each of the characters, by clicking on the images. Of course, you can also make up your own story, the sculptures stand on their own.
Ambulare Mirabilis
General information:
This creature represents probably an important part of the ‘missing link’ in the evolution of life on earth. Ambulare Mirabilis is believed to be the successor of Acanthostega. The species Ambulare Mirabilis was a land-animal with obvious features of fish-like and bird-like animals. This mammal is therefore one of the few species ever discovered that connects water, earth and sky. Because of its adaptability and modest size, this species was verry successful. The oldest excavation of Ambulare Mirabilis dates this species to have lived 360 million years ago. The youngest bones found state they died out with the dinosaurs 66 million years ago.
Archaeological sites:
Excavations on all continents south of the equator.
Iconography:
The gilded Ambulare Mirabilis icon represents the holiness of Adaptation and Unification and is also worshiped for its connection with Birth and Perseverance.
Ambulare Mirabilis
Animal bones,24 carat gold leaf. 22 x 23 x 31 cm. glass cube.
Fish bone, bird head, cat tail and other animal parts and bones.
Ambulare Mirabilis
General information:
This creature represents probably an important part of the ‘missing link’ in the evolution of life on earth. Ambulare Mirabilis is believed to be the successor of Acanthostega. The species Ambulare Mirabilis was a land-animal with obvious features of fish-like and bird-like animals. This mammal is therefore one of the few species ever discovered that connects water, earth and sky. Because of its adaptability and modest size, this species was verry successful. The oldest excavation of Ambulare Mirabilis dates this species to have lived 360 million years ago. The youngest bones found state they died out with the dinosaurs 66 million years ago.
Archaeological sites:
Excavations on all continents south of the equator.
Iconography:
The gilded Ambulare Mirabilis icon represents the holiness of Adaptation and Unification and is also worshiped for its connection with Birth and Perseverance.
Ambulare Mirabilis
Animal bones,24 carat gold leaf. 22 x 23 x 31 cm. glass cube.
Fish bone, bird head, cat tail and other animal parts and bones.
Creature d'Or III
The Warrior
General information:
The Warrior species walks upright on two legs, freeing up his front paws to carry and use self-made weapons. The Warrior lived in large territories and is known of crossing vast areas over several continents. His strong and robust posture is compactly built and for predators a hard nut to crack. In the latest excavations jewellery was found that can be attributed to the creativity of the Warrior. This is remarkable evidence that the Warrior was a far more intelligent creature than one previously thought.
Archaeological site:
Sumatra, Indonesia and in the belt from Kazakhstan to Mongolia.
Iconography:
The gilded Warrior icon represents the holiness of war and art
Creature d'Or III
Animal bones,24 carat gold leaf. 22 x 14 x 17 cm. glass cube
Dog skull, shell, stork leg and parts and bones of other animals.
Creature d'Or III
The Warrior
General information:
The Warrior species walks upright on two legs, freeing up his front paws to carry and use self-made weapons. The Warrior lived in large territories and is known of crossing vast areas over several continents. His strong and robust posture is compactly built and for predators a hard nut to crack. In the latest excavations jewellery was found that can be attributed to the creativity of the Warrior. This is remarkable evidence that the Warrior was a far more intelligent creature than one previously thought.
Archaeological site:
Sumatra, Indonesia and in the belt from Kazakhstan to Mongolia.
Iconography:
The gilded Warrior icon represents the holiness of war and art
Creature d'Or III
Animal bones,24 carat gold leaf. 22 x 14 x 17 cm. glass cube
Dog skull, shell, stork leg and parts and bones of other animals.
The Dancer
General information:
Dancers are deep-sea creatures and a far relative of jellyfish. The bones of the skirt move in and out distributing water in the membranes between the bones. The pulse-like thrust creates a movement that gives the impression of dancing. When gathering in large groups they synchronise their movement into impressive performances. The Dancer hunts alone on all kinds of prey. With a top speed of over 100 km. per hour the Dancer rams with his strong skull his prey unconscious. The jaws and claws tear it to pieces as he feeds.
Habitat:
This happy looking species with eccentric hunting method lives in the Challenger Deep and the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean. Even though there are a large number of Dancers in the ocean, remains of this species are rarely found due to depth in which they live.
Iconography:
The gilded Dancer icon represents the holiness of happiness and strength. Psychiatric patients also find comfort with the Dancer as they recognise the duality of the Dancers character.
The Dancer
Animal bones,24 carat gold leaf. 22 x 14 x 17 cm. glass cube
Cat skull, bird pelvis, cat tail and other animal parts and bones.
The Dancer
General information:
Dancers are deep-sea creatures and a far relative of jellyfish. The bones of the skirt move in and out distributing water in the membranes between the bones. The pulse-like thrust creates a movement that gives the impression of dancing. When gathering in large groups they synchronise their movement into impressive performances. The Dancer hunts alone on all kinds of prey. With a top speed of over 100 km. per hour the Dancer rams with his strong skull his prey unconscious. The jaws and claws tear it to pieces as he feeds.
Habitat:
This happy looking species with eccentric hunting method lives in the Challenger Deep and the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean. Even though there are a large number of Dancers in the ocean, remains of this species are rarely found due to depth in which they live.
Iconography:
The gilded Dancer icon represents the holiness of happiness and strength. Psychiatric patients also find comfort with the Dancer as they recognise the duality of the Dancers character.
The Dancer
Animal bones,24 carat gold leaf. 22 x 14 x 17 cm. glass cube
Cat skull, bird pelvis, cat tail and other animal parts and bones.
Creature d'Or III
The Warrior
General information:
The Warrior species walks upright on two legs, freeing up his front paws to carry and use self-made weapons. The Warrior lived in large territories and is known of crossing vast areas over several continents. His strong and robust posture is compactly built and for predators a hard nut to crack. In the latest excavations jewellery was found that can be attributed to the creativity of the Warrior. This is remarkable evidence that the Warrior was a far more intelligent creature than one previously thought.
Archaeological site:
Sumatra, Indonesia and in the belt from Kazakhstan to Mongolia.
Iconography:
The gilded Warrior icon represents the holiness of war and art
Creature d'Or III
Animal bones,24 carat gold leaf. 22 x 14 x 17 cm. glass cube
Dog skull, shell, stork leg and parts and bones of other animals.
Creature d'Or III
The Warrior
General information:
The Warrior species walks upright on two legs, freeing up his front paws to carry and use self-made weapons. The Warrior lived in large territories and is known of crossing vast areas over several continents. His strong and robust posture is compactly built and for predators a hard nut to crack. In the latest excavations jewellery was found that can be attributed to the creativity of the Warrior. This is remarkable evidence that the Warrior was a far more intelligent creature than one previously thought.
Archaeological site:
Sumatra, Indonesia and in the belt from Kazakhstan to Mongolia.
Iconography:
The gilded Warrior icon represents the holiness of war and art
Creature d'Or III
Animal bones,24 carat gold leaf. 22 x 14 x 17 cm. glass cube
Dog skull, shell, stork leg and parts and bones of other animals.
Monseigneur Alphonse
General information:
Monseigneur Alphonse is an attempt in the quest of the perfection of men. Assuming men was the first human, he got a choice in its own evolution. Understandably men chose for a prominently present third leg. After this request was implemented, problems soon occur. Monseigneur Alphonse was not able to control his new addition. Because the third leg of men is not connected to the part of the brain that houses shame and respect, the third leg seemed to drag the rest of the body in the direction of inappropriate situations. To compensate a second head is added. This had the consequence that the whole body became top-heavy. The addition of the third leg already made the posture lean more forward. Some species of Monseigneur Alphonse gave in to the weight and went back in time by walking on four paws. This had devastating consequences for the third leg. Recent excavations show multiple fractures in the bone of the third leg and show lump shaped deformations of the claw. Therefore, it’s evident that the species Monseigneur Alphonse did not survive and his present was erased from the line of development.
Archaeological site:
Eden, country unknown
Iconography:
The gilded Monseigneur Alphonse icon represents the holiness of wisdom, as it teaches many generations the consequences of a patriarchal society and of being greedy. Alcoholics and other addicts worship Monseigneur Alphonse for his curiosity and his thrive to optimise pleasure even though it is doomed to fail. Modern artists are inspired by the ‘form over function’ aspect displayed by the species Monseigneur Alphonse. Prostitutes and feminists see in Monseigneur Alphonse the proof of the superiority of women over men.
Monseigneur Alphonse
Animal bones,24 carat gold leaf. 22 x 14 x 17 cm. glass cube
Rabbit head, bird head, pelvis and feet and parts and bones of other animals.
Monseigneur Alphonse
General information:
Monseigneur Alphonse is an attempt in the quest of the perfection of men. Assuming men was the first human, he got a choice in its own evolution. Understandably men chose for a prominently present third leg. After this request was implemented, problems soon occur. Monseigneur Alphonse was not able to control his new addition. Because the third leg of men is not connected to the part of the brain that houses shame and respect, the third leg seemed to drag the rest of the body in the direction of inappropriate situations. To compensate a second head is added. This had the consequence that the whole body became top-heavy. The addition of the third leg already made the posture lean more forward. Some species of Monseigneur Alphonse gave in to the weight and went back in time by walking on four paws. This had devastating consequences for the third leg. Recent excavations show multiple fractures in the bone of the third leg and show lump shaped deformations of the claw. Therefore, it’s evident that the species Monseigneur Alphonse did not survive and his present was erased from the line of development.
Archaeological site:
Eden, country unknown
Iconography:
The gilded Monseigneur Alphonse icon represents the holiness of wisdom, as it teaches many generations the consequences of a patriarchal society and of being greedy. Alcoholics and other addicts worship Monseigneur Alphonse for his curiosity and his thrive to optimise pleasure even though it is doomed to fail. Modern artists are inspired by the ‘form over function’ aspect displayed by the species Monseigneur Alphonse. Prostitutes and feminists see in Monseigneur Alphonse the proof of the superiority of women over men.
Monseigneur Alphonse
Animal bones,24 carat gold leaf. 22 x 14 x 17 cm. glass cube
Rabbit head, bird head, pelvis and feet and parts and bones of other animals.
The Traveller
The journey of Oryctolagus Cuniculus the 1st
General information:
Oryctolagus Cuniculus 1st travels around the world in his leather suitcase. After years of excavating the site without any mentionable success, the team of archaeologists and palaeontologists finally found a corner of the handle of the now famous suitcase. With the greatest care they freed the body of the suitcase from the sand. When finding the lock, the experts concluded this case hasn’t been looted and it may be the first complete example. After opening the suitcase, the content seemed not only to be complete but also undamaged. The suitcase includes a wardrobe of spare parts and a mirror to check its appearance. A decency curtain provides the necessary privacy.
Archaeological site:
North-east of Egypt.
Iconography:
The gilded Traveller icon represents the holiness of both the Physical and Mental Journeys and Discoveries. The Traveller in the suitcase is an original home and traveller’s shrine. The completeness and quality of this find makes the Traveller, The journey of Oryctolagus Cuniculus the 1st, unique in its kind.
The Traveller
Animal bones,24 carat gold leaf. 23 x 30 x 16 cm. in leather suitcase.
Rabit head, mouse tail, crab claw and parts and bones of other animals.
The Traveller
The journey of Oryctolagus Cuniculus the 1st
General information:
Oryctolagus Cuniculus 1st travels around the world in his leather suitcase. After years of excavating the site without any mentionable success, the team of archaeologists and palaeontologists finally found a corner of the handle of the now famous suitcase. With the greatest care they freed the body of the suitcase from the sand. When finding the lock, the experts concluded this case hasn’t been looted and it may be the first complete example. After opening the suitcase, the content seemed not only to be complete but also undamaged. The suitcase includes a wardrobe of spare parts and a mirror to check its appearance. A decency curtain provides the necessary privacy.
Archaeological site:
North-east of Egypt.
Iconography:
The gilded Traveller icon represents the holiness of both the Physical and Mental Journeys and Discoveries. The Traveller in the suitcase is an original home and traveller’s shrine. The completeness and quality of this find makes the Traveller, The journey of Oryctolagus Cuniculus the 1st, unique in its kind.
The Traveller
Animal bones,24 carat gold leaf. 23 x 30 x 16 cm. in leather suitcase.
Rabit head, mouse tail, crab claw and parts and bones of other animals.
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It is the mission of Nathalie Abbing to instil a deep respect and knowledge of the craft of art in its many forms. If you have any questions about her work or would like to purchase a piece, please contact us.
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