Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-05-09

In . report TO Sir Harry Parkes ON
the commerce of Hiogo and Osaka for
the year 1878, which has Just been is-
sued By tho Foreign Of3cs, Consul
Flowers says that the bronze. porce-
lain and embroidery manufactures con-
tinue to maintain their high reputation
abroad. and they have executed large
orders for the recent Exhibition. The
bronze ware, he says, Is made with the
rudest possible appliances. From the
beautiful and richly chased articles
which are turned ont, one would expect
TO see large manufactures provided
with modern appliances Of every de-
scription, but in reality the workshops
are no better than the ordinary black
smith shops. The process il roughly
as follows: "The molds, which, Of
course, vary according to the shape Of
the vase or bowl IL is desired to make,
are made Of wood, sometimes covered
with straw. On this coating Of clay
il placed; over this comes layer Of
wax, which is nodded into the design
required. Another thick coating Of
clay Is then added, and, the, inner
wooden mold being taken ont, the ORR
foe at each end is closed. Two holes
are then made at one end connecting
with the layer of wax, 80 as to enable
the wax, whom melted, to run out, and
through these the molten bronze en-
ters, filing the interstices occupied by
the wax. The subsequent process of
casting is of the rudest kind. The
earthen mold is placed in small clay
oven followed out in the floor of the
workshop, the size of which depends
upon that Of the casting. The oven is
then filled with charcoal and closed,
with the exception Of circular open
ing at the top, on which chimney, q
foot or 30 high, is built of wet clay.
The oven is connected underground
with wooden bellows, protected from
the sparks and heat from the furnace
by o small earthen or stone wall foot
high, and which is worked by hands
and feet. The first operation is to melt
the wax, which runs out, leaving the
impression of the design stamped
firmly in the surrounding layer of clay.
This done, the mold is taken out and
allowed to cool. 1t 10 then put Sec
ond time into the furnace, as before,
and the molten bronze is then poured
into the mold through the holes by
which the wax escaped. After the
bronze has filled the mold the chimney
II knocked off, the oven is supplied
with fresh charcoal laid evenly around
the mold, and . lid being put on the
oven, furnished with small perforated
holes, the bellows are set to work again
for an hour or more. according to the
size Of the casting taken. This opera
ton generally occupies o day. When
the casting is taken out Of the oven,
the earth outside and inside is scraped
off and reveals the vase or bowl, in a
rough state. IL is then put into the
hands of rough workmen, boys being
mostly employed in this part Of the
work, by whom it lie polished and
scraped with . knife until it presents q
smooth surface. It then passes on "a
the carver, who fills in the details Of
the designs. When his work is done
the vase or bowl is dipped into 9 boiling
solution Of vinegar, sedge, and sulphate
Of copper, in order to give it the proper
color. A few finishing touches In the
way of polish are added, and the article
is finished and ready for sale. - London
Globs.