The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-08-19
FIGURES FROM WAX.
.r,cr,c WORK IN GETTING UP DRY
GOODS DUMMIES.
$751;. Rest Models Are Found Among the
,,.,s-Putting on Hair n Difficult and
.,.,,ous observation-disclosures Keep the
-, I'm Their Own Families.

| eft In Their own hahihies.
r.o dry goods men, with stores on prom
thoroughfares, employ In their estab-
m"hn-epts wax figures nodded from life,
ad ,o,re Of them, by the way, are remark
! Ms accurate facsimiles.
al atcse figures always picture very pretty
-, frequently well known actresses
VIZ W., tod beauties sit for their models i'm
nnu which are intended TO grace tho shop
Wa W come well known dry goods merchant
WI, these wax models are arrayed in all
w. 6nery Of the season, they present
NV fetching appearance, and doubtless
-. their attractiveness warrant tho ex-
n.rditnre of considerable sum of money
prscessary for their purchase.
Tho making of these figures in Philadel-
lilo Is very interesting and "a compare
yyrolv new industry. Until n few years ago
Nv the inferior grades were made here,
. .hs better figures all coming from abroad,
nd NJ the moment, although the home
'onufoctured article has not entirely dis
nIoced the foreign one, yet the wax figures
p,nade in Philadelphia are quite equal to
arv imported, even those coming from vi
snna. which has long held the premium
Cor making the most artistic and lifelike
way models for show windows.
The great majority of figures are made
from, living models, although cast from
one model serves for good many figures.
Among the Italians on South Eighth street
come of the best models for this business
ara found, and periodical excursions to the
Italian colony ire made by the wax model
ers who keep their eyes open for pretty
and we'll cut features. When face Is dis
covered that is to their liking they make
pvery effort Co induce the individual to
give them n sitting or two of three or four
hours, for which they pay literally.
Certain requisites are necessary for a
good living model for II wax figure. Promi
nent among them is perfect regularity Of
features, and the wax mOdelers say that by
long experience they have found it OK
tremely difficult to procure models with
regular features, but that the Italian wom-
en- most frequently fulfil their require
ments, and, moreover, they state that their
complexion, when soap and water have been
oppied, is far more natural than the COM
plexion of the average models belonging to
other nationalites who apply TO them for
work.
Intellectual expression is not required IN
wax figures and Is even n drawback.
The first step in the process of making n
high grade wax figure is to cast in wax u
head and bust in the rough. 1t is, of
course, hollow and more nearly resembles
huge wax potato than anything else, The
nrtist then takes knife and models like n
sculptor the block of wax into some resem-
blance of tho human head With knife III
hand and tho model hefol, him, no then
f,,1l 70, "a
production has been made of the face of his
sitter, and ii be is an expert modeler this
reproduction is usually very exact. He
puts the tint on the wax to copy the model :
complexion and completes every detail
with the utmost care Then tho hair, eye
brows and eyelashes arc put on. Only
natural hair is used, and it is inserted IN
such manner that it can be brushed and
done up as often as required, in any style
the purchaser pleases.
Probably the modelling of the eyes and
putting In of the eyelashes are the most
delicate part of the whole process. Each
hair is put ia separately, both on the head
and for the eyebrows and eyelashes The
operation is performed with hot needle
and takes long time This work is fire.
quently done by women, who become very
expert When tho hair is implanted in the
manner as stated, 1t can be dressed just as
If it were growinc on a living head 1t car
be washed and Lrushcd and taken down
and put up in any style, just as in nature
OF course, it cannot be cut, as there Is nc
possible chance of its growing in again
The tedious work Of inserting the hair M
thus described is, Of course, only possible
on what are known as first class wax heads
which often cost as much us $50 apiece
The average price of those seen in the big
dry goods stores Is between $50 ana sl00
The value Of these heads depends not onl.
upon the workmanship and time which ar
put in on them, but also upon the quaint!
of tho wax used.
A good wax head will never become
greasy and shiny from heat and VIII stan'
without injury "a comparatively high tom
perature. The surface is protected by
coating of fine powder which is blown OF
while the wax is slightly softened by heat
The composition of high grade wax IL care
fully guarded by the manufacturers, eacl
having secret process of his own.
When tho mouth of a wax figure Is shown
slightly open, real teeth are inserted. "A
the faces will be seen ut distance, I'll
eyebrows and eyelashes are slightly exag
gerated, on the same principle that ACTOR
and actresses make up the eyebrows an.
eyelasbes on the stage, so that they VIII
show properly.
Not only the wax figures to be seen u
show windows, but also Mt waxworK OK
hibitions, are made as above descrlpeo
Expert wax modelers are scarce and com
mand high salary. The trade generali
runs along from father to son, because ID
wax modelers refuse to teach their craft .
any but their own family.
Wax figures arc frequently used by moo
ical colleges and institutions to demon
strate anatomical monstrosities or pecuila
conditions of the human system unde
certain circumstances, and there are mot
elers who devote their time almost exci'
sively to preparing special models TO oru,
for medical institutions. -Phiiade'ph'
Tip,es.