About

 MOLD MAKING  
Making a mold of the original sculpture is the first step in the bronze casting process. The sculpture and all of its detail is captured in a flexible mold that will reproduce the original accurately in wax. The wax cast is used in the lost wax process.

LOST WAX
The wax cast is dipped repeatedly in a ceramic mixture called “slurry”, and re-enforced to create a strong ceramic shell inside and outside the entire piece. The ceramic shell is then fired and the wax melts out leaving an empty cavity for the bronze.

CASTING
After the wax is melted from the ceramic shells the bronze is heated in a furnace to about 2100 degrees while the shells are heated in a kiln to over 1200 degrees. After the bronze is removed from the ceramic shell and cleaned, we weld together any parts and
perfect the piece using small hand tools to ensure that the finished piece is exactly like the original clay model.

PATINA
Coloring the bronze cast is the final step of the process. Mild acid solutions combined with various chemicals react with the bronze to produce different colors or “patinas”. Patinas on bronze sculpture are generally done by applying layers of oxidizing chemicals or metals to achieve various colors, patterns and effects. The patina is applied with a brush as the bronze is heated. Once the desired effect is achieved, the patina is sealed with the wax or a lacquer for protection.