NOTES ON BRONZE. 45 



head is a result of this method. A rough clay copy of the model 

 of the image, vase, or other thing to be cast was made, smaller 

 in every dimension than the model. The amount of difference 

 of dimension regulated the thickness of the bronze casting. 

 Then on the model of the image was moulded a clay coating, in 

 two or more pieces, closely fitting edge to edge. These pieces 

 were with the most exact care luted together over the core or 

 smaller image, or other object, above named. Of course the two 

 were adjusted so as to leave the interval between them quite 

 uniform. Finally this interval was filled with melted bronze. 

 When this was set the outer coating and the core were removed 

 and there was your hollow bronze image. Whoever wants to 

 partly realise the racking anxiety of producing a large work of 

 this sort, let him read Benvenuto Cellini's immortal tale of the 

 casting of his Perseus. In modern times, but not, as far as is 

 known, of old, a very ingenious method was used, called the 

 process " de la cire perdue." This appears to be as follows : 

 The core was made in the usual way. On it was applied a 

 coating of wax of the thickness desired for the bronze. On the 

 surface of this wax were artistically modelled the details of the 

 image. To this modelled surface was applied the coating of 

 clay, and that it seems all in one piece, as of course would be 

 possible. When the clay hardened the wax was melted and run 

 off. The melted bronze was then poured into the cavity. The 

 metal of course showed all the modelling of the displaced wax. 

 This method would seem to have two advantages : Firstly and 

 chiefly, it takes away the need of luting together the coating, 

 which may cause slight lines on the metal. Secondly, it secures 

 accuracy of the thickness of the metal. For large statues, the 

 casting is done in several portions which are afterwards fitted 

 together and joined with melted metal. Of course this casting 

 in sections must have been the method used for the gigantic 

 bronze statues of ancient times. A curious modification of 

 casting bronze with a core was anciently in use in Assyria and 

 Etruria. They sometimes made the core of iron, and retained it 

 of course within the bronze. But the method was bad, judging 



