Handyman reader Richard Hanman had always wanted to construct an impressive statue in his backyard.
After retiring last year, he finally had time to make his dream come true.
He built this replica of a moai, the monolithic statues carved on Easter Island between 1250 and 1500AD. About 900 moai can still be found on the remote island today.
‘I have always wanted to create something of statuesque proportions, and this replica weighs three and a half tonnes,’ says Richard.
It took Richard two weeks, working two hours a day, to build. He started by constructing the concrete slab that forms the base, adding a central pole for stability.
Most of the moai were carved from a type of volcanic rock that is native to Easter Island, called tuff.
Many archaeologists believe that the statues were ‘walked’ into position by teams of people working together pulling ropes.
Richard’s statue, on the other hand, was built in situ from Hebel blocks cut and arranged in the shape of the figure. The blocks were positioned in layers to form a shell, then each layer was filled with concrete.
‘To create the appearance of stone, I rendered the statue,’ says Richard.
Richard’s statue is the talking point of the neighbourhood