New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-03
WAX MODELS FOR SHOW WINDOVS.

HOW THEY ARE COPIED FROM THE LIVING SUB
JECT WITH ALI. THE CARE OF A SCULPTOR.
comparatively new industry in New-York Is
that of making models for show windows.
Until two years ago only the inferior grades were
made here the better figures all coming from
abroad Though the home ufactured article
has not entirely displaced the foreign. the wax
figures now made here equal to any imported,
even those coming from Vienna. which has long
held the palm for making wax models.
All the figures are made from living models, most
of whom are found on the East Side among the
Italians A firm which manufactures wax figures
is always on the lookout for pretty face, and the
models are we'll paid. The chief modeller makes
periodical excursions among the people Of the ex-
IRENE East and West sides of New-York and keeps
his eyes open for pretty well-cut features. When
ever ne spots face to his liking he opens nego-
tiations with the owner or If 1t Is child with its
parents and pays literally for sitting Of two or
three hours. BY long experience the manufacturers
find that the best figures can be modelled from the
heads found in the lower quarters OF the town They
say that perfect regularity of features is extremely
difficult to find except among that class of people,
whose complexion also. when soap and water have
been plentfully applied is far more natural In
teectua expression is not required In wax hgure
and is even drawback.
The first step in the process of making a high
grade show figure is to cast in wax head and
bust in the rough 1t u.s. Of course. hollow and looks
like huge potato The artist then takes a knife
and models like sculptor the block of wax into
some resemblance to a human head. Knife in hand.
and with the model before him. he then carefully
cuts away the until an exact reproduction has
been made of the face of his sitter lie puts the
tnts on the wax to copy the modeIs compleNloh
and completes every detail with the utmost care.
Then the hair eyebrows and eyelashes are put in:
only natural hair is used and II can be brushed ana
The modelling OF the eyes and putting in OF the
eyeashes are the most delicate parts OF the who.e
head and for the eyebrows and eyelashes. The
operation is performed with hot needle. and takes
hair treated just though i wa; Esrowhns
nature Ths sI q thing is pCs,ssnibe ; only WITH hs
81 Th hose o dsen fo' the s biz
stores is about slN
but upon n' the quality Of the wax good wax head
viii never become greasy and shiny from heat and
i'm" powder. which is Down on while he wax
high grade wax IS CAREFULLY guarded BY the
facturers, each having secret process OF his own:
open real teeth are inserted As the faces WI! be
seen from distance, the eyelashes and eyebrows
at all
Expert wax modeiers are scarce. and command
high salary The trade generally runs along from
father TO son. because the wax modelers, one and
Of their own families wax figures are frequently
used 10y medical colleges and Institutions. and one
svey TO getting up special models for the purposes
been executed for "ri,by feet and fad has LAT ely
sprung up for small groups in wax OF an al.egorical
nature In a big drygoods house In Boston there IL
a complete group in wax representing Lieutenant
Pesry and his expedition At the North Pole
The wax modellers often required TO get up
figures to be used in practical Jokes. Not long ago
a party of students from a Western college brought
on photographs and measurements Of one of their
professors They had life-size figure made which
cost them $500 and they returned in high glee with
an exact reproduction Of the professor in How
it was be used they refused TO say, except that
was to figure in a practical joke of more or less
grewsome nature. Many OF the drygoods houses re-
qure the heads of their show figures to be remod-
eled after we,i-known actresses.
show figures are also made out Of papier mache
which is much cheaper and more lasting, but does
not give nearly as good effect