4^0 Art of moulding Carving in Wood . 
may be affixed with glue to the article for which it 1$ 
intended. Then cover it with a few strata of spirit of 
wine varnish, as is done in general in regard to carved 
work, or with wax in the encaustic manner. It requires 
much attention to discover that such ornaments are 
not carved in the usual manner. Gilding may be ap- 
plied to them with great facility. This operation is 
exceedingly easy ; nothing is necessary but moulds ; 
and with a little art the ornaments may be infinitely 
varied. 
I tried also to mould figures, and completely succeed- 
ed. These, however, require more care. * I first make a 
paste, similar to the former, with very fine sawdust, and 
place a stratum, of about two lines in thickness, on every 
part of the mould; after which it is left to dry almost en- 
tirely. In the mean time I prepare a coarse paste with 
coarse sawdust which has not been made to pass through 
a fine but a coarse sieve, and instead of Flanders glue I 
employ common glue, which is less expensive, adding to 
it a sixth of fish glue. I first put together two parts of 
the mould, after introducing into the joints a slight stra- 
tum of the fine paste, which I make very clear and apply 
with a small brush. I fill up the vacuity between the 
two pieces with coarse paste. I then apply the third 
piece as I did the second, and so on until the whole are 
adjusted, always filling up the vacuities with coarse 
paste. I suffer the whole to dry in the mould, and ob- 
tain a figure in relief of solid wood executed with all the 
delicacy of plaster figures. Care must be taken to re- 
move with a sharp knife, or a small file, the prominences 
formed by the joinings. If the figure be not suffered to 
dry too ' much, these prominences may be easily removed 
with the point of a sharp penknife. It will be necessary 
to learn the art of determining the proper degree of de- 
siccation ; for if the figure be taken from the mould before 
