Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-11-27
PLASTER CASTS.
ONE OF NEW YoRK's CURIOUS
INDUSTRIES.
Gods and Goddesses and Heroes in
Snow-White Beauty-sIak-
ing Casts OF Hands
and Feet.

! TT is So for hand, So for a foot,
but you can't have your head
cast at any price"
| These were the words uttered
to reporter for the New York Times,
who had climbed narrow staircase
leading from an equally narrow en-
trance on Grand street, to a genuine
plaster paradise. Here, in all the
purity of snowy plaster, are gods and
goddesses, patriarchs and prophets,
and heroes and cherubs. Heads and
hands and legs are here in profusion
on all sides. The room is part of the
largest plaster cast establishment in
the city, and is owned by an Italian
woman.
The business in plaster casts is an
extensive one, and is constantly in
creasing. The casts go largely into
educational institutions for purposes
of adornment, and into art schools as
models.
'It is only within the last seven or
eight years." the pretty young girl In
charge OF all the plaster goddesses
said, "that there has been much ap.
probation for artistic casts among
private individuals in this country,
but now there is q large demand for
them, as well as for various decorative
pieces in bas-relief."
The Venus of Milo always comes
first in the scale OF popularity. Mer-
curry and Narcissus are also great
favorites. The gladiators are popular
also, and Mercicr's David" which
made its first appearance at Paris o
few years ago, is popular modern
work.
There is horses head in the collec.
tion, made from death mask taken in
this city about fifteen years ago, and
horses legs in various positions.
These all go to the art schools. So do
the hands and arms; that is, those
which are not private property.
"The people who come to have their
hands nodded are not the people you
would expect to see interested in such
things" said the young custodian.
"Women come here who would not be
expected to be interested in fad
not young women, and they do not al
ways have pretty hands, either. But
really the hand does not make so much
difference as it does about the pose.
1t seems to be difficult for people to
place their hands in graceful posi-
tion. They spread them out in an
ugly, flat way. Most of the models we
keep in stock come from abroad.
"These are the hands OF man who
is very we'll known here. He is mu-
sician, and the hands are held as they
would be at the piano. There is the
hand of another friend. 1t seems to
be strongly marked hand. You can
see the impression of the skin. Stu
dents need hands like that to draw
FROM"
The hand, particularly that of wo-
man, is usually modelled with part of
the arm from below the elbow.
There is not SO much interest taxed
in modelling the foot. The foot
models, as well as those for the hand,
come chiefly from abroad. Properly
shaped feet are not common in this
country. There has been quite call
for ready-made casts of n foot this
year, and few of the applicants were
satisfied with the models presented for
their inspection.
It is not an expensive luxury to in.
dulge in o cast of ones hand or foot,
for they only cost s5 each. When one
wants cast of a hand or foot made,
he or she goes down to the basement
of the establishment, where there ore
barrels of plaster, u convene Mt stream
of running water, and around the
room what appears to be rough-look-
ing Jumps of plaster marked "Brutus," {"
"Yenus'' or "Juno" molds for larger
casts.
Casting is not very much unlike
cake making. A regular recipe form
might be given. srTake the proper
amount of plaster and stir smooth
with water, to the consistency OF
pancake batter"
When the plaster batter is of the
proper consistency it is poured care
fully around the hand-if that is the
model to be taken-from small,
white, earthenware bowl. The hand
rests gently upon table, and before
the plaster is dry a string is drawn
around tho hand and we'll into the
plaster, so as to break it away when
the impression is made.
People ask frequently to have casts
of their faces, but that is one thing
that cannot be obtained at this par
ticular establishment. There is some
danger in burying the face two or
three inches deep with plaster, Ill
though, when it is done, special ar
rangements are made to permit OF
breathing. Some sculptors take masks
in this way, but it is an unpleasant
practice at the least.