lost wax

Examples of lost wax in the following topics:

• Casting

  • Metal is one of the most common materials that artists cast, and the most common process used to cast metal is called the lost-wax casting process, variably known as lost-mold and waste-wax casting.
  • Lost-wax casting is the process of casting an artist's sculpture in a metal, such as gold, silver, bronze, or brass.
  • An ancient practice, the oldest examples of lost-wax casting have been found in India and date back nearly 5,000 years to the Harappan period.
  • Lost-wax casting was widespread in Europe until the 18th century at which point the piece-mold process came to dominate.
  • The resulting shell is then fired in a kiln allowing the wax to melt and run out.

• The Benin Bronzes

  • The metal pieces were made using lost-wax casting and are considered among the best sculptures made using this technique.
  • The most notable aspect of the works is the high level of the great metal-working skill at lost-wax casting.
  • Modern-day view of bronze casting using the lost wax method.

• Etruscan Bronze Sculpture

  • Also known by its French name cire perdue, lost-wax casting is the oldest method of producing metal sculptures.
  • In lost-wax casting, the sculptor begins by making a clay mold of the intended sculpture, coats it in wax, and applies an outer layer of plaster, fastening metal rods to hold the shell in place and wax rods to vent the mold.
  • Intense heat is then applied, causing the wax to melt and flow out of the mold.
  • Because the mold must be destroyed, sculptors use the lost-wax method to produce one-of-a-kind sculptures.

• Bronze Sculpture in the Greek Early Classical Period

  • The lost wax technique, which is also known by its French name, cire perdue, is the process that ancient Greeks used to create their bronze statues.
  • The wax mold would then be placed between the clay core and the clay mold, creating a pocket, and the wax would be melted out of the mold, after which the gap would be filled with bronze.
  • Because the clay mold must be broken when removing the figure, the lost wax method can be used only for making one-of-a-kind sculptures.
  • It was made by the lost wax technique in multiple sections and then assembled.
  • Both figures originally held a shield and spear, which are now lost.

• Sculpture in the Greek Geometric Period

  • Bronzes were made using the lost-wax technique, probably introduced from Syria, and were often left as votive offerings at sanctuaries such as Delphi and Olympia.

• Romanesque Sculpture: Reiner of Huy

  • It was made by the lost-wax casting technique, with the basin cast in a single piece.

• Sculpture of the Igbo-Ukwu

  • Most bronze sculptures were made in stages using the lost wax technique, an ancient casting process commonly using wax.

• Renaissance Sculpture in Florence

  • He revived the lost wax casting of bronze, a technique which had been used by the ancients and subsequently lost.

• Minoan Sculpture

  • Bronze was an important material in Minoan culture and many figurines were produced in this medium, mostly created using the lost-wax casting technique.

• Encaustic

  • Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, involves painting with a mixture of heated beeswax to which colored pigments have been added.
  • Because the wax cools quite quickly it is important to paint swiftly.
  • The thickness of the wax allows for it to be built up in layers to create a relief-like effect.
  • Metal tools and special brushes can be used to shape the paint before it cools, or heated metal tools can be used to manipulate the wax once it has cooled onto the surface.
  • Because wax is used as the pigment binder, encaustics can be sculpted as well as painted.