sculpture
 
     
       
sculptures  
           
       

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTIONS :

Lost wax casting method, ceramic shell.
Material : Bronze Silicon (minimum 94,5% copper).
Foundry : ART CASTING BELGIUM.

   
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE CREATION OF A BRONZE SCULPTURE
     
1
          2 3
   
   
4   5 6
7     8 9
   
10
 
  11 12
 
13 14 15
 

1 / The sculpture
• Mounting of a rigid structure with a metal thread
• Dressing of this structure with a material which allows one to sculpt (terracotta, plaster, etc).
Photos : 1, 2, 3

2 / The mold with silicon

The liquid silicon, mixed with a catalyst gives a negative draft which perfectly matches the original model.
This flexible silicon mold is maintained by a rigid coating in plaster or resin.
The mold once finished allows one unique piece or several unique pieces with the lost wax method to be made
(in the case of numbered bronzes: 8 +4 artist's exemplary, and in the case of multiple editions: more than 12 pieces).
Photos : 4, 5

3 / The lost wax technique
Fine layers of synthetic wax are applied with a brush in each piece of the mold then the hot wax is
poured into the assembled mold to allow the various parts to be joined.
A positive copy is then obtained with a width of 3 to 4 mm.
Photo : 6

4 / The correction of the wax production
The wax residue is eliminated as wall as the lines of junction from the assembling of the different parts of the mold
(a slight difference may occur). The wax is delicately reworked, until it resembles the original model.
Photos : 7, 8

5 / The filling system

Then canals and tubes as well as a funnel are installed on this corrected wax model.
This system allows the metal to fill the mold.
Photo : 9

6/ The ceramic shell

A ceramic structure is applied around the wax model with the tubes.
A first bath with a refractory liaising agent followed by a layer of fine sand allows all the details to be maintained.
Layer after layer, a shell or outline is formed outside as well as inside the sculpture.
Photo : 10

7 / The wax casting
All the wax will disappear by the funnel, once the ceramic mold is placed in the oven.
The heat also gives a higher resistance to the shell.

8 / The Melting

The extraction of the wax from the mold creates a void of 3 to 4 mm, which is the exact imprint of the wax model
and thus of the sculpture. This empty space is filled with bronze through he funnel and the filling system.
The bronze is melted at a temperature of around 1130°C.

9 / The removal from the mold
Once the metal has cooled, the mold is taken off and destroyed. Then the sculpture is removed from the propulsion apparatus.

10 / The chiseling
At this point, the work is welded, filed, chiseled and rub down in certain areas, where there are traces of propulsion and
imperfections due to the melting procedure. This brings the work back to its initial state.
Photos : 11, 12

11 / The sandblasting
Before the patina, the bronze is subject to a treatment with a projection of fine sand in order to clean it of all imperfections
(grease residue, from fingers and so forth) This allows the metal to react in a homogeneous way to the patina.
Photos : 13, 14

12 / The patina
The patina is obtained by heating the work and by applying specific chemicals which will determine its color.
The sculpture will then be protected by a layer of wax.
Photo : 15


 
PAGE TOP