Pottery: from Clay to Piece of Art
Slab rolled or wheel thrown, dried, then bisque fired, and finally glazed
An Original is embedded in platinum-cured silicone rubber. After hardening the rubber mold is cut open and the original form removed. The cavity is filled with liquid black wax. After cooling the wax replica is carefully revealed. Sprues and vents are attached before the wax replica is encased in the fire resistant investment.
After the investment has dried the wax needs to be removed, which takes many hours depending on the size of the form. The wax gets first melted out in an oven, then burned out in the kiln.
Finally molten bronze is poured into the hollowed out investment.
An impression of the paw is taken and filled with wax. After hardening the wax is cleaned up and sprues are attached. It is invested and burned out according to the lost wax method.
When cracking the investment open there always are surprises as the metal casting in a home-made forge is anything but fool-proof...
The bronzes need to be freed and cleaned up. Sprue and vents have to be sawed off and the sculpture needs to be polished with sand paper and buffers. Pet Paws get wire brushed with a steel wire brush attached to a grinding wheel or drill machine.