The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-10
WAX MODELS FOR SHOW WINDOWS
ing Subject With All the Care of II
Sculptor.
From the New York Tribune.


From the New York Tribune
A comparatively new industry in New
York is that of making wax 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 manufactured article
has not entirely displaced the foreign, the
wax figures made here now are 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 ngures Is always
on the lookout for retty face, and the
models are well paid. The chief modeller
makes periodical excursions among the
people of the extreme East and West
sides of New York and keeps his eyes
open for pretty, well cut features When
ever he spots" a face to his liking he
opens negotiations with the owner, If
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 reg
ularity of feature is extremely difficult
to find except among that class of people
whose complexion, also, when soap and
water have been pientifully applied, Is
far more natural. Intellectual expression
is not required in a wax figure, and is
even a drawback.
a high-grade wax show figure is to cast
in wax a head and bust I'm the rough.
It is, OF course, hollow and looks Ike
a huge wax potato. The artist then takes
a knife and models like a sculptor the
DlflA uf sax intp some r-scluutanCe 10
a human head. Knife in hand. and with
the model before him, he then carefully
cuts away the wax until an exact re-
production has been made of the face OF
his sitter. He puts the tnts on the wax TO
copy the models complexion and COM
pletes every detail with the utmost care.
Then the hair, eyebrows and eyeashes
are put in. only natural hair is used and
il can be brushed and done up in any
style the purchaser pleases.
tpe moGeilnt oi the eyes and putting IN
of the eyelashes are the most delicate
parts of the whole process. Each hair
Is put in separately, both on the head
and for the eyebrows and eyelashes. The
operation is performed with a hot nee
die, and takes a long time. When Inn
planted in this manner the hair can be
treated just as though 1t was growing on
a living head. II can be washed and
brushed and taken down and put up In
any style just as I'm nature. This sort OF
thing is possible only with first-class
heads, which often cost $50 apiece The
average price Of those seen In the big
dry goods stores is about 500.
The price depends not only upon the
workmanship, but upon the quality OF
the wax A good wax head wiz never
will stand without injury comparatively
high temperature. The surface Is protect
cd by a coating Of fine powder, which is
blown on while the wax is slightly soft
ened by heat. The composition of high
ttsup sHt fs Cat4 ~ - 'aruFd nV re-
manufacturers, each having a secret pro-
cess Of his own.
\, hen the mouth of wax figure Is
shown slightly open real teeth are in
serted. As the faces will be seen from
distance, the eyelashes and eyebrows are
slightly exaggerated or they would not
show at all.
Expert wax modellers are scarce, and
command a high salary. The trade gener-
ally runs along from father TO son, be-
cause the wax mod ellers, one and ALL re-
fuse to teach their craft to any but mem
bers of their own families. Wax figures are
frequently used by medical colleges and
Institutions, and one or two modellers de-
vote their time almost exclusively to get
ting up special models for the purposes Of
medical instruction. A great many orders
have been executed for ''Trilby' feet, and
a fad has lately sprung up for small
groups in wax Of an allegorical nature. In
a big drygOods house in Boston there is
a complete group in wax representing
Lieut. Peary and his expedition at the
North pole.
The wax modellers are 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 profess
sors They had life-size figure made;
which cost them $500. and they returned
in high glee with an exact reproduction
of the professor in wax. How II was to be
used they refused TO say, except that IL
was to figure in practical joke Of more
or less grewsome nature. Many of the dry
goods houses require the heads Of their
show figures to be remodelled after we'll
known actresses.
Show figures are also made out Of papier
maehe which is much cheaper and more
lasting. but does not give nearly as good
an effect as wax.