The process of making the clay statue into a bronze is very fascinating and labor intensive and we thought the membership might enjoy following the statues through the foundry process.

Once Jerry completed the clay head study he put 6 layers of rubber on them creating the mold.  The mold is then de-molded from the clay model (often destroying the clay model in the process) and wax is poured in 5 times creating a 3/8” thickness.  The mold is removed from the wax and the wax is cleaned and taken to the foundry.

The foundry puts 6 layers of silica on (which is ground up glass and water) and it has to cure for several weeks.  If it doesn’t cure long enough it will explode when put in the oven.  After curing,  it is now a ceramic shell over the wax and inside the wax.  It is put in an oven which melts the wax.  

Raw bronze, heated to 2000 degrees is poured into the ceramic shell.  When cool the shell is chipped off and sand blasted.  

It is heated with a torch and the desired patina is applied.  The patina process starts with the chemicals that advance the corrosion to the dark color.  It is then heated with a torch and the patina chemicals are applied.  You scrub it down to reveal the lighter tones and finally it is re-heated to put on a wax.  Below is a sequence of photos illustrating the patina process.

Later, after it cools it will buffed to a lust (not shown here).  Finally it will be mounted on the granite base.  

Due to the laborious procedures needed to make each bronze the foundry will not have enough time to make all 50 for us to bring to the national like we had originally planned, but we will have some so you can see the finished bronze.

The retail price of the small bronzes sell for $900-$1,200.  This is a once in a life time opportunity for you to get yours for only $550 .  We only have 50 to sell so contact Linda Friedow today to reserve yours.