Acrobat Without a Net !

 Statue by Anne Porcelijn

Untitled self-based standing figure reading from from an open book. 

Size: 1000 x 280 cm

www.anneporcelijn.nl

A way for an Art Casting Foundry to prove confidence and expertise is to perform what is called a direct cast. What does that mean? No mould making, no foundry model but direct work on the original. This is the shortest existing way to obtaining a bronze and perhaps the most elegant because this technique has zero tolerance for mistakes. Working directly on the original implies that if something goes 'wrong', no back up is available.
The founder must have the trust of the artist he serves, he is the acrobat who performs without net!


Sequence of events:

1) Original Preparing
2) Casting Montage
3) Investment mould
4) Burnout and Wax casting
5) Casting
6) Chiseling
7) Patina

1) Original Preparing

  

Book to be cast separately

Base to be cast separately

Main body to be cast in 2 parts

2) Casting Montage 

Pins of various sizes to secure the core, in-gates and vents for proper circulation of bronze and air

3) Investment mould 

Contact layer obtained by spraying method

4) Melting of the Original , Casting Wax & Burn Out

3 Phases for a 'direct cast': 

a) Melting of the original solid wax figure

b) Casting of fresh wax in the investment mould and control of its thickness

c) Burn out of the investment mould containing the new hollow model

a) Original wax removed by steam

The 'Cire Perdue (lost wax) is never entirely lost, part of it melts and flows out of the mould into a special receptacle located at the bottom of the oven. Our mould is now free from wax

b) Casting of fresh wax with controlled thickness

SUCCESS !!!!!