Journeys of transformation play out on many different levels and in many different stages. Once an artist has dug deep inside themselves and found treasure, travelling many moons to bring their dream to life, their precious and fragile creation is handed over to the foundry to start the process of transmutation into bronze. The foundry team is the artist's fellowship, who enables the treasure to find its way to the world.
First, a master mould is made of the original. This is to preserve it for future castings in the edition and also for the creation of a sacrificial wax copy of the sculpture. This wax copy is used to create a sacrificial ceramic mould, which is capable of receiving molten bronze of over one thousand degrees. This brings us to the moment of truth, when the artist's original intentions are transmuted into a lasting bronze form. In many ways, this technique has remained unchanged for millennia. The ancient craft of lost-wax bronze casting allows us to integrate the strength of a metal such as bronze with delicacy in texture and form.
In many ways, this technique has remained unchanged for millennia. The ancient craft of lost-wax bronze casting allows us to integrate the strength of a metal such as bronze with delicacy in texture and form.
Take a look behind the scenes...
Moulding the original...
Casting a sacrificial wax...
Creating a sacrificial ceramic mould...
Casting in bronze and final finishing...
Featured product
In the creation of originals suitable for the casting process, synthetic sculpting clay is often used. This clay doesn't dry out and can be used in conjunction with steel armatures. This clay At Falconer Art Studios, we mix our own.
Sculpting clay
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Featured product
What if creating a bronze sculpture wasn’t reserved for master artists…but something you could do, right at home? Introducing the Alchemy of Bronze Sculpting Kit– everything you need to sculpt your own original artwork in wax.
Sculpting kit