Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1896-11-20
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WAX MODELS.
Figures Made for Use In the Show
Windows Of Stores.
Copied from Living Subjects with An Ne
Care of . sculptor-Some Inter-
Ssting FEATURE Of the
Business.

o0tAn8 E0otofoo u eo0
Business.
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 COM
ing from abroad. Though the home
manufactured article has not entirely
displaced the foreign, the wax figures
now made here are equal to any i'm
ported, even those coming from Vienna,
which hos long held the palm for maxi
ing 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
II always on the lookout for q pretty
face, and the models are well paid.
The chief modeler makes periodical
excursions among the people OF the ex-
treme East and West sides Of New York
and keeps his eyes open for pretty.
well-cut features. Whenever he spots"
q face to his liking he opens negotiar
lions with the owner. or il it is child.
with its parents, and pays literally for
o 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
yerfect regularity Of features is ex-
tremely difficult to find except among
that class of people, whose complexion
also, when soap and water have been
plentifully applied. is far more natural.
Intellectual expression is not require"
in a wax figure, and is even draw
back.
The first step in the process Of max
ing q high-grade wax show figure 10 to
cast in wax head and bust in the
rough, 1t is. of course, hollow and looks
like huge wax potato. The artist
then takes a knife and models like q
sculptor the block of wax into some re-
semblance to 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 models
complexion and completes every detail
with the utmost care. Thew the hA--
eyebrows and eyelashes are put in.
Only natural hair is used, and it can be
brushed and done up in any style the
purchaser pleases.
The modelling Of the eyes and put
ting 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 eye.
lashcs. The operation IL performed
. with O hot needle, and takes a long time
When implanted in this manner the
hair can be treated just us though II
was growing on a living head. 1t car
. he washed and brushed and taken dowI
and put up in any style just az in ma
: ture. This sort of thing is possible
, only with first-class heads, which Otter
: cost $3.50 apiece. The average price o
{ those seen in the dry goods stores Il
e about 500.
: The price depends not only upon tn
= workmanship, but upon the quality o
the wax. A good wax head will neve
I become greasy and shiny from heat
y and will stand without injury a com
n paratively high temperature. The SUI
r face is protected by coating OF I'm
o powder, which is blown on while tn
e wax is slightly softened by heat. Tn
Z composition of high grade wax IL cart
u fully guarded by the manufacturer
s each having q secret process OF hi
own.
When the mouth Of q wax hgure
shown slightly open real teeth are IL
serted. As the faces will be seen frol
a distance, the eyelashes and eyebrow
y, y, are slightly exaggerated, or they woul
N not show at all.
:. Expert wax modelers are scarce, AZ
~ command a high salary. The traf
y generally runs along from father
son. because the wax modelers, OF
As and all, refuse to teach their craft
w anv but members of their own faI
a. "a lilies. Wax figures are frequently US
bv medical colleges and institution
. and one or two modelers devote the
., time almost exclusively to getting
%. special models for the purposes OF me
a ical instruction. great many orde
~ have been executed for ''Trilby" fe'
ad and fad has lately sprung up for sm
'or groups in wax of an allegoricel natu
Of In a big dry goods house in Bost
N. there is a complete group in wax n
he resenting Lieut.. Peary and his expe
,at ton at the north pole.
nv The wax modelers are often requif
TO get up figures to be used in practi
- Jokes. Not long ago q party OF 8
dents from a western college brouf
1 1er on photographs and measurements
un- one of their professors. They ha.
his n1 iife-size figure made. which cost tn
,on. 5000, and they returned in high 8
Who with an exact reproduction of the r
lessor in wax How it was to be u
Il. they refused to say, except that it
to figure in a practical joke OF m
- or less grewsome nature. Many Of
p. dry goods houses require the head
ned nod their show figures to be remode
! by after well-known actresses.
I Sy Show figures are also made out
ness papier mache, which is much chea
Dill and more lasting, but does not
{. nearly as good an effect a. wax-'-S