The Ravalli Republican., 1896-01-22
WAX MODELS.
Figures Made for Use in the snow
Windows Of Stores.
Copied from Living Subjects with All the
Care Of a Sculptor-Some Inter-
esting Features Of the ~
Business.

models for show windows. Until Two
Years ago only the inferior grades were
made here. the better figures all conf
ing from abroad. Though the home
manufactured article has not entirely
displaced the foreign, the wax 11g'res
now made here are equal TO any Ill
ported even those coming from VIENNA
which has long held the palm for max
ing wax models.
All the figures arc made from living
models, most of whom are found on
the East side among the Italians. n
firm which manufactures wax 1lgures
is ALWAYS on the lockout for q pretty
face, and the models; are well PAD.
The chief modeler makes periodical
excursions; among the people OF the eS-
treme last and West sides OF Kew York
and keeps lis eyes open for pretty,
well-cut features. Whenever he "spots'
a face to his liking he opens negot'a-
lions with the owner, or ii it is q ch'lt'
with it's parents, and pays literally Tor
4 sitting OF two or three hours. by
| long experience the manufacturers 1ind
| that the best figures can be modelled
| fro1, the heads found in the lower
quarters Of the town. They say that
perfect regularity Of features IS eN-
| tre1ncly difficult to find except among
nat, class Of people, whose complexion
also, when soap and water have been
1.lcntifully applied, is far more natural.
| intellectual expression is not required
in IL wax figure, and is even draw
back.
The first step in the process OF MAX
ing u high grade wax show figure IS TO
cast in wax a head and bust IN the
rough, 1T is, of course, hollow and looks
like q huge wax potato. The artist
then takes q knife and models like y
sculptor the block of wax into some re-
se1nbance to Il human head. knife IN
hand, and with the model before him,
he then carefully cuts away the wax
until an exact reproduction has been
made Of the face Of the sitter. He puts
the tints on the wax to copy the modeFs
complexion and completes every detail
with the utmost care Then the hair,
eyebrows and eyelushes :re put in.
Only natural hair is used, and it can be
brushed and done up in any style the
: purchaser pleascs.
The modelling Of the eyes and put
ting in Of the cye]ashes are the most
delicate parts Of the whole process.
l3acl, ha1. is put in separately, both on
the head and for the eyebrows and eye
lashcs. The operation is performed
with Il hot needle and takes a long time.
When implanted in this manner the
, hair can be treated just Us though it
vas growing on !, living head. It can
he washed and brushed and taken down
and put ,.p in any style just as III ma
t.re This sort of thing is possible
S ONLY with iirst-class heads, which often
G cost $50 apiece. The average price OF
j. those seen i'll the dry goods stores Is
about 500.
The price depends not only upon the
workmanship, but upon the quality o:
the WAX \ coed wax head will never
become greasy and shiny from heat
and will stand without injury 4 com
,oarut:vely high temperature. The sur
face is protected By a coating OF fn(
powder, which is blown on while tht
wax is slightly softcned by heat. Th'
composition of high grade WAX IS care
fully guarded by the manufacturers
- each having 81 secret process OF nj
=, own.
> When the mouth of a wax figure
shown slightly open real teeth arc IN
! serted AS the faces will be seen from
- Il distance, the eyclashes and eyebrow
ure slightly exaggerated, OF they Woul
not show at all.
Expert wax modclers are scarce, an
It, command a high salary. The trad
--., generally runs along from father t
son, because the wax moGelers, on
y and all, refuse to teach their craft
any but members of their own ian
. lies. Wax figures arc frequently use
by medical colleges and institution
and one or two modelers devote the
time almost exclusively to getting Il
special models for the purposes OF lnce
n ica instruction. \ great many order
d have been executed for ''Trilby' fee
and fad has lately sprung up for s1na
groups in wax of an a}legoi,ical natu1'
In big dry goods house in bostt
there is u complete group in wax re
1csenting Lieut.. Peary and his eNpee
ton at the north pole.
The wax motlelcrs are often require
to get up figures to be used in practlc
-, Jokes. Not long ago a party OF st
~ dents from a western college broug
on photographs and measurements
one of their professors. They had
lite-size figure made, which cost the
5000, and they returned in high 81
with an exact reproduction OF the p1
fessor in wax How it WAS to be us
they refused to say, except that It !"
ms to figure in . practical joke OF nc
,rh or less grewsome nature. Many or t
Tie dry goods houses require the heads
'''e their show figures to be remodel
after well-linoWn actresses.
Show figures are also made out
papicr mache, which is much cheaI
= and more lasting, but does not 81
neirly as good an effect as wax-N.
Tribune.
The Temperature OF Dintng-Rooms'
- Il e