"Lost Wax" Creating Form Part 2 of 3

Don't be fooled by the imitations. A lot of bronze is cast overseas in mass quantities, usually from 500 to thousands, what's unique about that? Nothing. Our sculptors have it done right here in the United States. They like to be hands on for every step in case corrections need to be made.

Here is one way our artists have their pieces cast. "The Lost Wax Bronze Casting."

For instance Lindley Briggs; sometimes will bring the original sculpture and pay the foundry to make the mold for her. Wax is then poured into the mold, creating a wax replica, which Lindley, in turn inspects and signs each piece.

The wax replica is coated with many layers of ceramic, called a ceramic shell. The wax is then melted out of the ceramic shell, then molten bronze is hand poured into the ceramic shell by metal craftsman using the ancient "cire perdue" or lost-wax method.
Casts are then chased, refined and sandblasted at the foundry, which Briggs oversees and directs the patination (is a film on the surface of bronze or similar metals, produced by oxidation over a long period) process with a craftsman who specializes in patinas.







Then they are out for you to add to your collection.