286 MOULDING AND CASTING. 



to prevent it from adhering to the original. Bees- 

 wax and dough, or the crumb of new bread, may 

 also be used for moulding some small subjects. 



When there are under cuttings in the bas relief, 

 they must be first filled up before it can be mould- 

 ed, otherwise the mould could not be got off. When 

 the casts are taken afterwards, these places must 

 be worked out with a proper tool. 



When the model, or original subject, is of a round 

 form, or projects so much that it cannot be moulded 

 in this manner, the mould must be divided into 

 several parts j and it is frequently necessary to cast 

 several parts separately, and afterwards to join them 

 togetl^er. In this case, the plaster must be tem- 

 pered with water to such a consistence, that it may 

 be worked like soft paste, and must be laid on with 

 some convenient instrument, compressing it so as 

 to make it adapt itself to all parts of the surface. 

 When the model is so covered to a convenient thick- 

 ness, the whole must be left at rest till the plaster is 

 set and firm, so as to bear dividing without falling 

 to pieces, or being liable to be put out of its form 

 by any slight violence ; and it must then be divided 

 into pieces, in order to its being taken off from the 

 model, by cutting it with a knife with a very thin 

 blade ; and being divided, must be cautiously taken 

 off, and kept till dry: but it must be observed, be- 

 fore the separation of the parts be made, to notch 

 them across the joints, or lines of division, at pro- 

 per distances, that they may with ease and certainty 

 be properly put together again. The art of pro- 

 perly dividing the moulds, in order to make them 

 separate from the model, requires more dexterity 

 and skill than any other thing in the art of casting, 

 and does not admit of rules for the most advanta- 

 geous conduct of it in every case. Where the sub- 



