Bronze Sculptures and Figurines by Danya B.
Danya B. themed bronze figurines and bronze sculptures are made with the Lost Wax method, which is the most precise bronze figurine casting technique to date. It ensures accurate reproductions of the original sculpture and retains exquisite details of the original art work. All of our bronze figurines are cast from wax models, regardless of the material the original sculpture was created with. Most of our bronze figurine originals were sculpted by the artists in clay or wax. The quality of these little sculptures are excellent and will make a great impression in your home. They make great gifts as you can choose a very personal matching themed figurine. Look no further, we probably feature the largest selection of Danya B. Bronze Figurines on the web.
Bronze Sculptures created with Lost Wax is an ancient casting technique and was very common in Europe until the 18th century, when a piece-mold process became more dominant. The casting process today varies from foundry to foundry, but the steps which are usually used in casting small bronze figurines in a modern bronze foundry are usually very similar.
The Steps of the Lost Wax Bronze Casting Method
Casts can be made of the wax model itself, which is called the direct method, or of a wax copy of another material and this is called the indirect method. We will show the indirect process only:
Model Creation:
An artist creates an original model from wax, clay, or another material. Wax and oil-based clay are often the first choice because these materials stay soft.
Mold Making:
A mold is made of the original model or sculpture. Inner molds are usually made of latex, polyurethane rubber or silicone, which is supported by the outer mold. The outer mold can be made from plaster, but can also be made of fiberglass or other materials. Most molds are cut in at least two pieces so that the mold can be put back together accurately.
Pouring Wax:
Once the mold is finished, molten wax is poured into the mold and swished around until an even coating covers the inner surface of the mold. This is repeated until the desired thickness is reached.
Wax Removal:
This hollow wax copy of the original model is removed from the mold. The artist may reuse the mold to make multiple copies, limited only by the durability of the mold.
Chasing:
Each hollow wax copy is then chased. With a heated metal tool the marks that show the parting line are removed. The wax is dressed to hide any imperfections. The model now looks like the finished figurine piece.
Spruing:
The wax copy is sprued with little branches of wax that will make up the paths for the liquid casting material to flow in and the air to escape.
Slurry:
The already sprued wax copy is dipped into a slurry of silica, then into a sand-like stucco, or dry crystalline silica. The slurry and grit combination is called ceramic shell mold material, although it is not literally made of ceramic. This shell is allowed to dry, and the process is repeated until at least a half-inch coating covers the entire piece.
Burnout of Wax:
The ceramic shell-coated piece is placed cup-down in a kiln, whose heat hardens the silica coatings into a shell, and the wax melts out. The melted wax can be reused but most often it is simply burned up. Now all that remains of the original artwork is the negative space inside the hardened ceramic shell. The feeder and vent tubes are now ready too.
Testing for Leaks:
The ceramic shell is allowed to cool and then needs to be tested with water to assure the free flow through the feeder and vent tubes.
Pouring into the Mold:
The shell is heated in the kiln to harden and remove all traces of moisture, then placed cup-upwards into a tub filled with sand. Bronze is melted in a crucible in the furnace, then poured carefully into the shell. If the shell is not hot enough, the temperature difference would crack the mold.
Mold Release:
The shell is hammered or sand-blasted away, releasing the rough bronze casting. The spruing are cut off and can be reused again for the next figurine casting.
Metal Chasing:
Just as the wax copies were chased, the cast bronze figurine itself needs to be worked on until the signs and imperfections of the casting process are gone. The bronze figurine or sculpture now looks like the original model made by the artist.
