Techniques and Materials

Circe Purdue (lost wax casting). After the shape is carved in wax it then is placed in a cylindrical flask which has to exceed the height of the wax. The object is then in bedded in an heat resistant plaster- like powder/water mixture called investment. Once dry, the flask can be gradually heated up to 1250 C in an upside down position. Once the wax is eliminated it leaves a cavity in which liquid metal can be poured. Depending on the size of the flask this procedure can take up to 9 hours. The materials most often used are silver or a 18k-gold a combination of 750 parts fine gold alloyed with 250 parts silver and copper.