Fighting Giraffes Sculpture by Carol Bryant 

Giraffes look serene from a distance, and most of the time they are, but Carol Bryant sculpted this pair mid-fight, necking for the right to mate with females nearby. It's the contrast that drew her in, animals known for quiet browsing suddenly locked in what reads as genuine violence, necks swinging like weapons. 

The bronze group stands 62 cm tall and captures both animals at once, a technical challenge Bryant handles by letting one neck arc against the other's straighter line, so the eye reads motion rather than a frozen pair. It's the largest group study in the collection and one of its most physically demanding subjects to cast. Giraffe bulls use this necking motion for both dominance and courtship, so the same swing that settles a fight also decides who mates, which is what gives the pose its stakes. 

Giraffes forms part of 'Where the wild things come to rest', Carol Bryant's exhibition at Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate, on show from 2 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. The estate has placed several signature works, this piece included, along the winery precinct walk, where visitors can see it at full scale between tastings. 

From the Artist

"I saw these two males in a remarkable battle for superiority. For the victor, the right to mate with the females. What struck me most forcibly was the contrast between this and their usually serene and gentle natures, from quietly browsing in the treetops, to almost unbelievable violence." 

Details

• Material: Bronze
• Dimensions: 51 x 19 x 62 cm (L x W x H)
• Weight: 16 kg
• Price: On enquiry 

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