Art of moulding Curving hi JT^ood. 249 



proper degree of liquidity may be known by sufFeriiig the 

 mixed irlue to become perfectly cold : it must then form a 

 jelly, or rather a commencement of jelly. If it happens 

 that it is still liquid when cold, a little of the water must be 

 evaporated by exposing the vessel in which it is contained to 

 heat. On the other hand, if it has too much consistence, a 

 little warm water must be added. In a word, the proper 

 degree will be ascertained by a few trials. 



The glue thus prepared is to be heated till you can scarcely 

 endure vour fiuirer m it : by this operation a little water is 

 evaporated, and the glue accpiires more consistence. Then 

 lake line raspings of wood or sawdust, sifted through a fine 

 liair-sieve, and form it into a paste, \\hich must be put into 

 moulds of plaster or sulphur after they have been well rub- 

 bed over with linseed- or nut-oil, in the same mamier ;is 

 when plaster is to be moulded. Care must be taken to 

 press the paste in the mould with your hand, in order that 

 it may acquire all the forms of the mould : then cover it 

 w ith an oiled board, and, placing over it a weight, suffer ii 

 in that manner to drv. 'J'he desiccation may oe hastened 

 and rendered more complete by a stove. When the im- 

 pression is dry remove the rough parts, and if any inequa- 

 lities remain behind they must be smoothed ; after which 

 the impression may be affixed with glue to the article for 

 which it is intended. Then cover it with a few strata of 

 spirit of wine varnish, as is done in general in regard to 

 carved work, or with wax in the encaustic manner. It 

 requires much attention to discover that such ornaments 

 are not carved in the usual manner. Gilding may be ap- 

 plied to them with great facility. This operation is exceed- 

 ingly easy; nothing is necessary but moulds ; and with a 

 little art the ornaments may be infinitely varied. 



I tried also to mould figures, and completely succeeded. 

 These, however, require more care. I first make a paste, 

 similar to the former, with very fine sawdust, and place a 

 stratum, of about two lines in thickness, on every part of 

 the mould ; after which it is left to dry almost entirely. In 

 the mean time I prepare a coarse paste with coarse sawdust 

 which has not been made to pass through a fine but a coarse 

 sieve, and instead of Flanders glue I employ common ghic, 

 which is less expensive, adding to it a sixth of fish glue. 

 1 first put together two parts of the mould, after introducing 

 into the joints a slight stratum of the line paste, wliich I 

 make very clear and apply with a small brush. I fill up 

 the vacuity between the two pieces with coarse paste. I 

 then apply the third piece a;> I did the second, and so on 



until 



