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A pair of mirror polished stainless steel dolphins in a park waterscape
Stainless steel dolphin sculpture reflecting the sky and water in a public plazaLarge stainless steel dolphin sculpture installed in a shallow water feature
Stainless Steel Sculpture

Dolphin

Stainless steel dolphins are forged from 304 stainless steel plate into dynamic swimming forms and polished to a mirror finish. Installed in parks, waterfronts, and public plazas, they read as living forms rather than static objects, reflecting the sky, water and surrounding landscape. Each dolphin is built to the buyer's layout drawing, so scale, posture and position match the site plan exactly.

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MaterialStainless steel, 304 as standard
FormingHand forged and welded from plate
Standard FinishMirror polish
Alternative FinishesBrushed satin, colour electroplating, baked lacquer
Typical UsePark and waterscape sculpture
SizesBuilt to the buyer layout drawing
CategoryStainless Steel Sculpture
Made InPingshan District, Shenzhen, China

Key Benefits

  • Mirror polished 304 stainless steel reflects the sky and water, making the sculpture part of the environment rather than a separate object
  • Forged from plate rather than cast, so large dolphins remain light enough to install without heavy lifting equipment
  • Closed body form with no sharp edges, suitable for public spaces used by children and families
  • Resists rust and weathering in outdoor and water environments, unlike painted or coated metal
  • Built to your layout drawing, so dolphin positions and sizes fit the site plan without gaps or misalignment

Application Scenarios

  • Public parks and waterfront promenades where a sculptural group replaces conventional plantings
  • Marina entrances and harbor areas where a dynamic form marks the site and welcomes visitors
  • Shopping mall plazas and rooftop gardens with water features where a sculpture adds movement and interest
  • Residential community entrances and show gardens where a large piece defines the arrival experience
  • Municipal plaza installations where a single dolphin or a pair becomes a landmark feature

Who It Is For

  • Landscape architects specifying sculptural elements for public parks and water systems
  • Property developers installing permanent features in show gardens and entrance zones
  • Municipal parks departments replacing temporary plantings with durable outdoor art
  • Hotel and resort buyers sourcing outdoor decoration that withstands coastal and wet conditions
  • Art consultants commissioning site-specific works for public art programs

Problems It Solves

  • Painted or coated metal sculptures peel and rust outdoors, especially near water, while polished stainless steel does not
  • Cast metal dolphins are heavy and require cranes to install, increasing site logistics and cost
  • Standard catalogue sculptures rarely match the scale and position needed in a layout drawing
  • Natural dolphin forms are not available in metal, and resin or fiberglass versions fade under sunlight
  • Existing sculptures often have sharp edges or open forms that are unsafe in public use

Technical Features

  • Body forged and welded from 304 stainless steel plate, then ground and mirror polished
  • Seamless appearance with weld lines dressed back before the final polish
  • Hollow forged construction keeps weight per piece low relative to size
  • Base plate or ground spigot fixing detailed to the site condition
  • Finish options include mirror polish, brushed satin, colour electroplating and baked lacquer

Materials

  • 304 stainless steel plate for the forged body and the fixing detail
  • Stainless steel welding consumables matched to the parent plate so the polish stays even

Quality Control

  • Formed shape checked against the approved drawing before welding
  • Weld seams inspected and dressed until they disappear under the polish
  • Polished surface checked under light for grinding marks and orange peel
  • Protective film applied to every polished face before crating

Customization Options

  • Any dolphin size and any number of pieces to your layout drawing
  • Mirror, brushed, colour plated or baked lacquer finish per piece or per cluster
  • Fixing detail adapted to lawn, paving, planter or shallow water installation
  • Sample piece produced for approval before a full cluster goes into production

Use Guide

  • Send the site layout drawing with dolphin positions and intended sizes marked
  • Confirm whether pieces sit on lawn, on paving, in a planter or in water, as the fixing detail differs
  • Leave the protective film in place until the surrounding landscape work is finished
  • Clean with water and a soft cloth and do not use abrasive pads on a mirror surface
  • Re-polish locally if a piece is scratched during site work rather than replacing it
Manufacturing Process

How This Piece Is Made

  1. Review of the site layout drawing and agreement of dolphin positions, scale and posture
  2. Plate forming data calculated for each dolphin before any steel is cut
  3. Hand forging of the plate into the swimming dolphin form
  4. Welding of the closed body and dressing back of the weld lines
  5. Grinding through successive grits followed by mirror polishing
  6. Fixing detail welded on, protective film applied and crating for export
01Drawing02Forming03Welding04Grinding05Finish06Crating

Every stage happens in the same workshop in Pingshan, Shenzhen, which is why a set of pieces arrives matching.

Comparison

How It Compares With the Alternatives

Compared with Cast copper dolphinsCast copper develops a patina over time, which may be desired, but it is heavier and costs more at this scale
Compared with Painted carbon steelPainted steel offers lower initial cost but requires repainting outdoors and will rust at any chip
Compared with Resin or fiberglass dolphinsResin is lighter and cheaper, but it fades under sunlight and cannot achieve a mirror finish
Compared with Natural stone dolphinsStone is heavy and difficult to install, and matching forms across a cluster is not possible

Where This Piece Is Used

Urban Public Art and LandscapeApplication notesCommercial Property and RetailApplication notesDesigners and Art ConsultantsApplication notesMountain and Wolves Landscape InstallationProject notesForged Stainless Steel Giant MushroomsProject notesChoosing Stainless Steel for Outdoor SculptureMaterial GuideFrom Drawing to Installed SculptureProcess GuideMaintaining Outdoor Metal SculptureMaintenance Guide
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FAQ

Dolphin Questions

What material are the dolphins made from?

They are forged from 304 stainless steel plate and then mirror polished. 304 is used because it holds a polish and resists rust in outdoor and water environments.

Can you make them in the sizes on our site drawing?

Yes. Our technicians calculate the forming data for each piece, so size, curvature and posture follow your drawing exactly.

Can the dolphins sit in water?

Yes. They are used in water features and shallow pools. Tell us the water condition so the fixing detail and drainage of the hollow body can be detailed for it.

What finishes are available besides mirror polish?

Brushed satin, colour electroplating and baked lacquer are all produced in house. Colour samples are made for approval before production.

How are the pieces packed for export?

Polished faces are covered with protective film and the pieces are crated. Tell us the destination port and we will confirm the crating arrangement.

Can we see a sample before the full cluster is made?

Yes. One piece can be produced for approval first, which is the normal route on larger clusters.

How do we get a price?

Send the layout drawing or a sketch with sizes and quantities by email or WhatsApp and we will quote against it.

Quote Dolphin at Your Size

Tell us the size, the quantity and where it will be installed. A drawing or a reference photograph is enough to start.

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