| Process
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American
Bronze Foundry, Inc. |
American Bronze Foundry is a full service foundry using the
"Lost Wax" method for casting. Here is a detailed walk-through of
the processes involved from start to completion.
Bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, first
appeared in the Far East toward the end of the fourth millennium
B.C., there is no accurate record of when the lost wax method of
casting was first utilized. It is believed the earliest users of
the method began with a clay core roughly the shape of the
subject to be sculpted. This core was covered with wax, and then
sculpted to the finished form.
Once the wax hardened it was covered with clay. The object was
baked, hardening the clay and melting the wax. Because the wax
method melted out the bottom of the baking receptacle or oven,
it was unusable or lost - hence the process is called "Lost
Wax". The space evacuated by the wax was then filled with molten
bronze. Once the bronze cooled and hardened, the clay was
removed and the remaining bronze - cleaned and polished.
Archeologists have found castings - thousands of years old.
The basic principle of the process has remained unchanged,
although many new techniques had been developed. The most
significant of which was the use of molds from which many waxes
could be made and the ceramic shell process gave a high quality
casting.
American Bronze Foundry feels a strong sense of
responsibility when creating art that will survive many
generations. If you have the time, take a few moments to view
the steps of completing a bronze sculpture.
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