312 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



around it ; care must also be taken that the artificial leaf does 

 not slip upon the model, otherwise a double impression and a 

 spoiled leaf will be the result When sufficiently pressed — 

 which experience alone can teach — the leaf is easily removed 

 and a perfect impression is revealed, this being, of course, in 

 reverse to the model, but exactly of the form and venation of 

 the natural leaf. 



Holding it by the stem, very carefully trim around the 

 edges, following exactly the serrations marked upon the model. 

 The edges will be somewhat too thick unless the wax and 

 fabric are chosen of a less combined thickness than that of the 

 natural leaf, but in any case they will require to be carefully 

 rolled with the head of a modelling-pin upon the edge of 

 the left forefinger, care being taken not to obliterate the inner 

 venations, nor to destroy the natural curves arid symmetry of 

 the leaf. 



The late Mr. J. H. Mintorn thus described ^ his method of 

 how to model such a large leaf as that of the water-lily : — 



The mould should be immersed in warm water for some ten or 

 fifteen minutes ; then take it out of the water and gently wipe it. Some 

 green wax must be melted as described for the mould-making, and 

 coloured to the proper shade by using (ground in oil) chrome No. 2, 

 P. blue, and burnt sienna. This colour must be mixed in a spoon with 

 a little of the melted wax, and this well mixed into the body of the 

 wax ; and having it quite melted or liquid, I proceed thus : — Holding 

 in the left hand the mould, and having removed the vessel containing 

 the wax from the hot water, place the mould so that one end of it rests 

 over the centre of the vessel containing the wax ; and then, taking a 

 large tablespoon filled with this, pour it over the whole surface of 

 the mould. This will require repeating several times to insure its being 

 completely covered. Should the wax crack it will indicate that the wax 

 is too hot or the mould too cold. To decrease the warmth of the wax 

 allow it to stand a few moments ; by this time the wax will be cooler 



1 Lessons in Flower and Fruit Modelling in Wax, pp. 99-101. 



