MODELLING THE LESSER CELANDINE 321 



smoothly at first over the covered wire, but, as the natural 

 stem becomes gradually thicker and squarer towards the base, 

 another strip of doubled wax, cut to an apex, is superimposed 

 upon the other, and this, when tooled at the back, gives the 

 requisite squareness. 



The Flower-bud is made by preparing a wire as for the 

 stem, and building upon it a foundation made thus : Take a 

 strip of yellow wax, three-eighths of an inch or less in width, 

 and fold it lengthwise in such a manner that the upper portion 

 shall be single and the lower double, and the whole width from 

 three-sixteenths to a quarter of an inch, according to the size of 

 the natural bud. Roll this strip, with the fold inside, around 

 the prepared end of the wire to a somewhat conical form, after- 

 wards modelling it with the stem of the pin into a triangular 

 shape. 



Next cut a disc of pale green wax backed with fabric, and 

 from this cut three combined petals, as was done for the calyx 

 of the flower, but larger. Thin their edges with the head of the 

 modelling-pin, mould the lines and shape on the fabric side, 

 then make each concave on the other side, and, having pierced 

 a hole in the centre, slip upon the wire and affix to the base 

 of the foundation, taking care that each petal rests upon a side 

 of the triangle. The sepals are better cut separately for the 

 bud ; thin their edges and tool them as before, and arrange 

 them over and between the petals, still preserving the triangular 

 shape, and, if the bud is to appear as though just opening, the 

 enclosed triangular cone should show the yellow apex, which, if 

 not of quite the correct hue, must be made so with moist water- 

 colour. 



The Leaf and Stalk. — The plaster moulds, having been 

 made and prepared as directed previously, should now be in 

 front of the modeller, together with a sufficient number of ribs 

 (see p. 306). One of the leaf-moulds being selected, wet it, as 



