The Bronze Process

The process of bringing a bronze sculpture to life using the lost-wax method is something you'll appreciate after taking this tour-Enjoy

Here Shelley Curtiss's original clay sculpture is nearly ready for the foundry. Note the artist is still adding the finishing touches.

Most sculptors prefer to work with clay or wax; some however, do use wood and other mediums. Here the finished original clay is now complete. The sculptor will take it to the foundry now, get a bid then begin the first stages of the lost wax process.

The first step can be shocking for some as they begin to decide how this original will be cut up.

In order to prepare the original clay sculpture for molding, it will be dissected by cutting the clay with wire and by cutting the armature with a saw. The armature is what helped support the clay in place while the artist was creating it. Note the registration marks which later in the process will serve to realign the parts.

Shown here are the sections of the original clay sculpture after having been dissected.

Now the various parts of the original are carefully mounted on clay plugs before the rubber mold material is applied. The clay plug later serves as a pour spout for the mold

Bronze process photos by Joseph Digital

It can take anywhere from 8 to 16 weeks for one casting depending how busy a foundry is. In conclusion, remember that as an example if there are going to be 50 bronze castings in the edition, this whole process is done over and over for each number in the edition. They are truly original castings. The only step that can be "re-used" in casting another number in the edition is the "mother mold" in the very beginning. Once all numbers have been cast (the amount of numbers is decided by the artist before casting begins), the mother mold is destroyed.