Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-12-04
SOME ART IN THE WAX FIGURES.
skilled Workmen Kept Eusy Dino Mu-
seums and Their Product.


skilled workmen Kept Busy Dino Mu-
seums and Their Product.
Although wax-works have been a
synonym for uncouthness and angular
ity ever since the days Of Mrs. farley,
the men who make them nowadays are
somewhat trained in art, and in the
intervals Of their work sometimes turn
out statuettes or decorative pieces of
decided merit. So far as the designer
is concerned, it really matters little
whether his composition is finally to
take shape in marble, bronze or wax.
He first makes a rough miniature
sketch in modelling wax, then full
sized statue in clay, from which 6
plaster mould is taken and the work.
men do the rest. The hot wax is poured
inside the mould to the thickness of
quarter of an inch or so, backed
up with the remelted wax from Old
disused figures. The body is of hol-
low papier mache, and the limbs, if
they are to be movable, of wood if
not, of paper, or If they are to show
when the figure is dressed, of wax.
Finishing the face is the most deli
cate work. The eyes. of course, are
of glass, and the lashes around them
are planted one at time with forceps.
The teeth, when the lips are TO be
opened, are exactly the same as these
used by dentists to replace the natural
ones. Human hair is so cheap just
now that it no longer pays to use an
CORA or any of the other ilbstitutas
cnce employed. The cheap grades Of
real hair it is interesting 10 note. come
from China, and are genuine pigtails
in fact. The hair is all black and
straight as yardsticll at first, but it
is bleached and dyed in any tint de-
sired, and can be crimped more or
less, though artists have never sue
ceeded in making it look naturally
wavy.
Designers make a sharp distinction
between the figures used for displays
and advertising and those used for
other purposes. museums for instance.
when you work for Advertising"
said one, the more beautiful and the
less like nature you get it, the better
it is, but for a museum they like it
better the less beautiful and the more
like nature it is" The regular muse
ums have modellers of their own, so
outside houses get only occasional jobs.
Models of freaks, such as two-legged
boys, armless and legless men, or pink
eyed albinos, are among the most COM
mon articles made to order. The faces
of public men are sometimes wanted
too. As rule this class Of business
is looked down upon. Dime museums
pay dime prices and they get dime
work." said veteran designer.
The dealers are kept at work max
Ing new designs as fast as the old ones
can be initiated One house sent out
so new models in the past season. In
former years, a third or fourth of
that number would suffice, as 500 or
1000 copies were sometimes made from
the same mould, and sent out to cities
in different parts of the country.
1t is not always dime museums, how
ever, that try to get something for
nothing. Advertisers often order spe-
cial figures or groups, agreeing to rent
them for certain length OF time but
leaving them afterwards for the maker
to pay for by renting them again, if
he can. A group showing Faust, Mar
gUerlte and Mephistopheles was once
made for q linen house at cost of
$500 or more. The first months rental
was $3.50. The owner kent it seven
years, and then, despairing of ever
finding any one else who wanted the
group, broke it to pieces. A most elab-
crate half life size group representing
Aurora, Goddess of Morning, in her
chariot. was made some years ago un-
der a similar contract, and is to be
had now on easy terms. Another man
ufacturer has on his hands mammoth
mechanical water lily which is sup
posed to open and shut at intervals by
electricity, revealing beautiful fe-
male within. This has been rented
four times, but it always broke down.
New York Post