Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-09-09
Artistic workers in Wax.

In dingy little back room on the
Eop floor OF Randolph street, Chicago,
building, is a curious den that is gem
orally kept locked. A glimpse through
he half open door showed Startling
array OF dismeinbered legs and arms, of
several feet and hands, with an occa-
siOnal trunkless head leering with wide
open eyes at the lnterloper. 1t is the
ar of well.knOwn maksr of the WAX
statuary for museums, and is curious
studio. Upon the workable are scat
tered pieces of human bodies done in
wax, plaster casts, paper molds and the
icy glare OF an occasional glass eve
sends chill down the spinal column of
sensitive spectator. The mailing of
wax statuary is a comparatively new
industry in this country, and there are
but few artists in that line here. To
make a wax fguIe model is first made
of pOtter's clay and after it has been
completed plaster of paris cast is
taken, into which the melted wax IS
poured, completely filling the cast The
wax next to the cast hardens first, and
then the center mass is poured of, ieav-
ing the waXwOrk a hollow shell. The
cast has to be filed up with the wax in
order to prevent cracks or creases on
the surface, After the figure has be
come cool it Is carefully smOOthed off
and touched up by the artist, his tools
being very light and delicate wooden
Scrapers and little knife made of a
small clock spring"
Are wax figures eXpenSIve?" the
anxious inquirer asked Of the artist. :.
''Fairly So" was the response. ''One
firm will not make "a figure Of any kind
for less than 500. Tie wax IS the
purest beeswax, and costs 90 cents a
pound. In making life-size head
use about eighteen pounds of wax; that
is, | have to melt about that mu b ,
but of course there is good deal can
he poured back from the cast. 1t took
$50 pounds to make that figure of the
GrDre, and such a work would cost
500. Most of the wax heads and busts
IN hairdressers' windows turn yellow
with age. That's because tie figure is
finished and then colOred; mix my col
ors in the wax when / melt it, and time
u-yer changes its appearance.
"IIow do you fix up the hair?" again
propounded the interrogation.
"lf the hair is to be very heavy l use
a wig, if not L put it III with IA needle
while the wax is still hot. Glass eyes
are easily supplied and it is remarkable
what a wonderful resemblance to life
We can produce.n
II Is au interesting sight to watch the
artist at work on the head of some ia
nous man. Before him stands photo
graph of his subject. With magnifying
glass in hand he pores over each feat
ure. working at the plastic clay all the
time. Under his magic touch the clay
grows into perfect likeness of its pro-
tOtype, until every feature stands boldly
out. The making of the model is the
hardest part of the work. To complete
the mOdel OF any prominent person re
quires from four to six days, with two
sittings of two or three hours each day;
after that the work Can be finished in
short order The bodies of moSt OF the
large figures, where clothing or drapery
is 10 he used, are made of heavy paper
mo Dis, making them much lighter than
wax and at the same time much NOR
durable.