Curriculum Materials: Amazing Animals in
Art
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Image 6 African, Nigeria (Benin) Essays: Questions: |
Technique
For centuries Benin artists have created exquisite animal figures and bronze heads by using a sophisticated casting technique known as the lost-wax method. In this process, the artists create a mold by making a clay core, which is covered with a layer of wax. They model and incise the wax as they want the sculpture to look, including all the details intended for the finished work. The wax is then covered with a thick coating of clay. Heating the mold causes the clay to harden and the wax to melt. When the melted wax is poured out, it leaves an empty space, which is filled by pouring in molten bronze. After the metal cools and hardens, the clay jacket is chipped away, revealing a bronze sculpture identical to the original wax model. As much as possible of the interior clay core is removed to produce a hollow sculpture.
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