Blacksand Bronze stands at the intersection of tradition and innovation. With our heritage rooted in goldsmithing and over 30 years designing and manufacturing in bronze, we pride ourselves on our deep understanding of the alchemy of materiality and craft.
Driven by our commitment to excellence, we celebrate the inherent strength and raw beauty of solid bronze. Our approach and artisanal techniques ensure each piece will be celebrated for generations.
Central to our ethos is the decision to work with sand-cast silicon bronze. Rather than concealing its natural texture, we embrace it, allowing the true character of the metal to shine. Endorsed by the NZ building code for its exceptional resilience and strength, silicon bronze is the cornerstone of our craftsmanship.
We live, design and make our products on Waiheke Island, New Zealand. Being connected to the ocean that surrounds us we recognise the significance of crafting products that thrive in coastal environments.
ethos
OUR MISSION
crafting products of resilient beauty
Embracing Longevity
Our Commitment to Lasting Quality.
We value longevity. Our handles are built to last, with easily replaceable springs and honest, exposed fixings that showcase our commitment to straightforward engineering. Following our environmental self-audit in 2010, we made the decision to ditch high polishing and secondary finishing, including plating—practices that generate unnecessary waste and rely on harsh chemical processes. Instead, we use the highest quality metal of silicon bronze and embrace the natural finish resulting from the manufacturing and cast process. We've adopted sustainable practices like collecting and recycling all bronze swarf, ensuring our factory operates with minimal waste and in a circular production. This connection to our environment also meant relocating our factory and lives to Waiheke Island. Surrounded by sea, we draw inspiration from the natural landscape around us, creating hardware that endures these elements.
Our dedication to quality, sustainability, and design informs every aspect of our work, ensuring that our creations are as resilient as they are beautiful.
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We see sustainability as a verb, not a noun. We are constantly striving to be and do better by adopting a circular production manufacturing process and kaizen philosophy. By adopting this approach to making, we ensure that every aspect of our production process contributes to environmental responsibility and product longevity. From material selection of silicon bronze to waste management, we aim to create a closed-loop system that minimises our environmental impact and maximises resource efficiency. We work in one alloy of the highest grade so that we can collect and recycle all bronze swarf and offcuts, ensuring that our factory operates in a circular production model. Our commitment isn't just about the latest trend; it's about designing for a lifetime.
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The bronze we use is very high in copper, making it an ideal material for architectural hardware. With two core considerations— the environment it resides in and the people who interact with it—our products are designed to thrive in both aspects. Exceptional corrosion resistance and high strength enable silicon bronze to excel in coastal environments, enduring even the harshest conditions. The extremely high copper content boasts natural antimicrobial properties, offering an additional layer of protection against harmful pathogens. This feature holds particular significance for us, as hardware is an integral part of our daily lives.
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Blacksand Bronze is proud to uphold the legacy of bronze—a metal that has been used for centuries in various applications, from art to architecture. While we honour its ancient roots, we also embrace innovation in our manufacturing and design processes. As an ancient metal with a rich history, bronze carries with it a timeless alchemy and a legacy of durability, at Blacksand we hope to stand at this intersection.
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Our commitment to quality extends to the very heart of our team. Our products are designed and made in Aotearoa, New Zealand. We value connection and people, by keeping our business local, we strive to support and contribute to our community.
Our founders
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Founder
Waiheke Island. For anyone who knows Matt, they know he is always connected to the sea, whether that be in the form of surfing or flicking a fly rod. This passion is at the core of Blacksand, with every piece Matthew designs having a connection to nature, both in design, form, materiality and process.
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Founder
With a diverse creative background spanning art galleries, the film industry, and interior design, Carmen Sosich brings a wealth of experience to Blacksand Bronze. Collaborating with Matthew for over 25 years, this dynamic duo is fueled by their shared passion for people, design, and a straightforward approach. Carmen's blend of creativity and practicality has been instrumental in shaping Blacksand into what it is today—an immensely gratifying life project, as she describes it. As a natural problem solver, Carmen plays a pivotal role in liaising with clients and architects, ensuring that our hardware meets the exact needs of each project before it reaches the site.
Blacksandbronze is a family-run business built on our core values. In a world of fast-paced mass production, we have chosen the slower path, one built on authenticity, sustainability, craftsmanship and connection.
With over 30 years in the design industry, from jewellery, to interior objects, candlesticks and chairs, design and craft is what we know. A prominent chapter of this was ‘Zealous’, our interior design shop on Ponsonby Road in the 1990s.
Our history
Ponsonby Road Shop 1990.
Carmen Sosich and Matthew von Sturmer at their shop Zealous, 1997.
The Fluke Chair was Matthew von Sturmer’s entry for the 1991 Artiture exhibition. Photography by Haru Sameshima. Recently celebrated with thanks to Object Space’s Exhibition The Chair: A story of design and making in Aotearoa.
Mathew von Sturmer’s commissioned Jewellery piece.