About Lost-WaxCasting Method

In-direct lost wax casting is the most basic form of metalcasting seen in African cultures. Scholars have yet to establish exactly how itwas introduced and developed in West African regions, but it is known that itwas being used prior to Portuguese explorers’ arrival in the late 1400’s.

To use this method, the artist must begin with a low meltingpoint material that can retain its shape but is soft enough to carve intricatedetails into, such as beeswax. Once the artist finishes carving the details,layers of clay are applied to the outside and then left to dry. The first layerof clay applied takes on the details, while the additional layers of coarserclay provide strength to the entirety of the mold. Once fired, the wax is thenmelted, leaving only the baked clay shell. Liquid metal is then poured into theempty clay mold. Once the metal has hardened and cooled, the clay exterior isthen broken. This process reveals the finished metal object, which is alwaysunique due to the mold being destroyed during the final process.

Many West African sculptors have altered this method byusing multiple castings, which can be used to create hollowed and thin metalfigures. One of the ways to achieve the hollowed result is creating the waxsculptures over a formed clay core. Iron spikes are used to attach the solidclay core to the clay layers of the mold. The metal is then poured inside andleft to cool and hardened. At the end of the process, the clay core is thenbroken up and removed and the final brass work is finished. These hollowedpieces can then be united to create larger figures or vessels.

Source:

Apley, Alice. (2001, October) African Lost-Wax Casting Essay. class=\"MsoNormal\" class=\"MsoNormal\" the Benin People

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