MODELLING OF ANIMALS, ETC. 155 



reader's judgment. The head, then, being now securely fixed 

 face downwards, the clay which hides the lower half must be 

 picked 0^. This exposes the inner edge of the mould, together 

 with the lower jaw. Scrape the plaster to a level surface, and 

 cut two moderately large V-shaped nicks, one on each edge of 

 the mould, build up around as before with wood, and fill in all 

 interstices leading to the table below with clay. See that the 

 mouth is properly shut, introducing a little clay if needed. 

 Brush over with soft soap, not forgetting the top of the plaster 

 mould, and mix some more plaster and pour over the lower jaw, 

 on to the edges of the plaster mould, until stopped by the 

 wall ; build up thicker in the centre, as before, and suffer all to 

 dry for about an hour. After this, pull away the walls, and all 

 retaining clay, and the mould will easily come away from the 

 head in three pieces, i.e., two for the upper surface, and one for 

 the under. The chief thing to guard against is not to get the 

 plaster behind the horns, so that it locks the front up. As, 

 however, you may require to cast more, in length, of the under 

 surface than of the upper, you may easily do this by lengthening 

 the upper surface, when turned over, with clay, and casting on 

 to that. It is this system which gives the diagonally- cut 

 appearance to the model (see Fig. 28). 



You have now three pieces, forming, when trimmed and 

 put together, a concavity representing the place whence the 

 stag's head has been extracted; bake these pieces in an oven 

 for a day or so until sufficiently dried, then examine them for 

 flaws or air-bubble holes, which fill up with clay, brush over 

 inside with linseed oil or soft soap, tie together, and fix the 

 mould, nose downward, iu a bucket or pail, pack with wedges, 

 and run in sand outside the mould to make all secure. Prepare 

 some plaster and poui* into the mould at the opening and before 

 it is quite set, scoop out some to make it hollow at the neck ; 

 allow it to remain undisturbed for from two to four hours,* then 

 take it out, undo the string, and gently tap the mould in every 

 part with a small mallet, rolling it every now and then upon the 

 table ; in a short time you will hear something rattle, and perhaps 

 a little loosening of one edge or piece will take place ; tap now 



* Baking, whsn practicable, will often assist the parting of the mould from the modeL 



