The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1884-07-26
HOW BARTHOLDrs STATUE WAS
MADE.

So' NiSaoio" Aoi ouiy uOw DdItlOru >
great Statue of Liberty was made: "In
the first place, there had to be sketch
or model. This was a figure of the
statue in clay, to give an idea of how it
would look. The public approved of this
model, and then the first real study of
the work was made--a plaster statue,
just one-sixteenth the size of the intended
statue.
"The next step was to make another
model just four times as large, or one.
fourth the size Of the real statue. The
quarter-si2e model being finished, then
came the task of making the full-sized
model in plaster. But this had to be
made IN sections. For instance, the first
section would include the base on which
the figure stood, the feet and the hem
of the garment. The next section would
include a circle quite round the long
flowing dress, just above the hem. The
third section would stand above this and
show more of the folds of the dress, and
reach part way up to the knee. In like
manner, the whole figure would be di.
vided up into sections. ~-
"The quarter.size model was first di.
vided in this way, and then to lay out
the full.sized plan it was only necessary
to make plan Of each section four times
as large as the section actually was in
the model. Every part of the model was
covered with marks or dots for guides,
and by measuring from dot to dot, in
creasing the measurement four times,
and then transferring it to the larger
model, an exact copy just four times as
large was made. For each Of these
larger sections, however, there had to be
support of some kind, before the plaster
could be laid on. Having marked on the
floor an outline plan Of the enlarged Sec
ton, a wooden framework was built up
inside the plan. Then upon this frame
work plaster was roughly spread. 1t
soon resembled, in rude way, the cor.
responding section of the quarter.size
model, but was four times as large. Then
the workmen copied in this pile Of plaster
every feature of the model section, meas.
uring and measuring, again and again,
from dot to dot, correcting by means OF
plumb.lines, and patiently trying and re.
trying till an exact copy-only in pro.
portion four times as slarge-was attained
"The great irregularity of the drapery
made it necessary to put three hundred
marks on each section, besides twelve
hundred smaller guide.marks, in orde,
to insure an exact correspondence in pro
portion between the enlarged sections o.
the full.sized model and the section O.
the quarter.sized model. Each of these
marks, moreover, had to be measured
three times on both models, and afte,
that came all the re.measurements, t.
prove that not single mistake had beer
made.
"When these sections in plaster hat
been completed, then came the work o
making wooden molds that should b.
exact copies both in size and modelling o
the plaster. These were all CAREFUL,
made by hand. 1t was long, tedious ant
difficult Each piece was a mold of
part Of the statue, exactly fitting ever.
projection, depression and curve of tha
portion Of the figure or drapery. Int
these wooden molds sheets of metal wer
laid, and pressed or beaten down til
they fitted the irregular surfaces of tn
molds. All the 'repousse,' or hammere,
work was done from the back, or insid
of the sheet. If the mold is an exac
copy of part of the statue, it is easy t
see that the sheet of metal, when mad
to fit it, will, when taken out and turne
over, be copy Of that part of the statue
"These sheets were OF copper. an
each was from one to three yards square
Each formed part Of the bronze statue
and Of course no two were alike.
"In this complicated manner, by NAL
ing first sketch, then quarter.sia
model, then a full.size model in sections
then hundreds Of wooden copies, an
lastly by beating into shape 300 sheets
| copper, the enormous statue was finished
These 300 bent and hammered plate
weighing in all eighty.eight tons, form Il
outside OF the statue. They are vel
thin, and while they fit each other pc
, fectly, it is quite plain that if they we
put together in their proper order the
would never stand alone. These har
mered sheets make the outside Of Il
~ statue; but there must also be skeleto
r bony structure inside, to hold it t
!, gether. This is of iron beams, firm
Z riveted together, and making suppo
] to which the copper shell can be fas
sned."