Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1892-04-08
THE DEATH-MASK.
How 20 Preserve an Exact Copy
of Familiar Features.
Some OF the Difiicolties Encountered by
the sculptor Parts OF
the Operation Masks Made from
Living People.

1t Is n common practice when we'll
known people die TO have sculptor
make a death mask, says the san Fran
cisco Chronicle. the lea being To pre-
serve an exact copy of the familiar
features. The taking Of this photo
/ graph Of the dead is an interesting proc
/ ess.
/ II IL is decided 10 have death mask
made no time should be lost after the
| deceasc Ia the ease Of General Grant,
when 10 was well known that death
could not be STAYED of. arrangements
were made to have sculptor in the
house of Mount McGrcgur 80 that the
mask could be taken at once after he
expired. The programme was carried
out and the bust which resulted was
pronounced, even by the great generals
nearest relatives, the most perfect like
ness ever made of him
A mask Is always made when bust
or medallion portrait is needed as IL
gives the exact proportions of the face,
reproducing the relative positions of
the bones, which, OF course, do not
change in death
The first thing 10 DE done by sculp-
tor when taking mask is To close the
eyes, and II possible. the mouth also.
Any little openings are filled with cot
ton, wool, soft rays. etc, and thus the
nose and ears and the mouth are gently
packed without in any way disturbing
the contour. The face and as much of
the head as il j. necessary Ia take is
then covered with sweet oil or some
unguent laid on pretty thick, the object
being a. prevent the plaster adhcring
to the skin or hair The necessity of
this preeaution j. evident, especially
when 1t is remembered how shocking
any laceration If the features would be
10 the friends Of the deceased, caused
AZ il might be- by the forcibe removal
of plaster
Down the center line 81 the face "A
strong silk thread il laid and then the
laying ON Of the plaster is commenced
The white, fresh plaster is mixed in n
bowl close nj hand and is laid on the
face in thin layer. not more than
three-quartcrs of an inch thick. II IL
were put on at once of the full thick
ness necessary 20 use the mask as a
mould the weight might press in the
face and distOrt the features. just
before this thin layer has quite set the
silk cord il drawn up. dividing the
mask into two parts along the center
line of the face. Perhaps IT may not he
evident why the mask should Toe made
in halves. but a little consideration will
suggest the reason.
The width OF the face behind the
cheek bones il less than across them,
and IL the mask were removed whole IL
would be al the risk OF tearing the face
in passing over the cheek bones at the
points of articulation OF the Jaws. As
soon a. the thin layer has become suf-
ticiently firm to carry additional
weight without pressing on the face
more plaster is put On until a thickness
of an inch to an inch and half has
been attained. The silkeu cord which
has been used 20 separate the first thin
layers is again brought into requisition,
or. rather. has never been removed
from its position along the center of
the face except ~ make the division.
just before the entire cast sets this
cord is drawn mp through the whole
thickness, Of plaster, md 81 the halves
II the cast are formed. IL requires
about half an hour for the plaster To
set firmly enough 10 remove and then
the work il finished
The cotton wool il removed from the
nose, ears and mouth. and the oil is
carefully wiped of 80 as TO leave no
traces whatever Of the work which has
been accomplished II need hardly be
pointed ont that the sculptor covers the
pillows. clothes, etc. with cloths To-
prevent spla>heS 81 plaster or oil being
left on them.
When the cast has been secured the
next operation H. 20 make the mask
from IT, This j. done in the sculptor's
studio. and Dec usually lets the cast lie
for day or SO. until the plaster has be-
come quite hard and dry. Forming
bed of fresh plaster, the sculptor inserts |
cne-half of the cast in il, the hollow or
impression side up; then the other half I
is put in, bringing the sections severed /
by the silken cord together. The out /
side bed of plaster sets hard and the /
east il again an entirety. The interior I
of the cast before making the mask is /
soaked in water and then it 1
is coated with composition of soap, |
oil and stcarinc. different sculptors .
using their own preparations. Moist \
plaster il poured in and the sculptor
lifts the bed and mold in his hands turn
ing il in such "a way that the white
liquid fills every corner With the aid
II his spattle he works in more plaster
until thickness of about one and a-half
inches has been attained. wire loop
IS inserted in the border of the mask so
hat it can be hung up and the whole is
eft to dry and harden. As soon as this
5 accomplished the sculptor knocks the
'ast or mold off piece ny piece, dig
ring away the bed and freeing the
mask. The bust must I've modelled in
lay The mask is hung at a convenient
height, close To the sculptor's table or
ripod. the skeleton frame Is built and
hen the modelling il undertaken. To