New or Improved Method of Producing Casts of Leaves and Flowers in Wax.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1894-4ccepted, 22nd Dec., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Method of Producing Casts of Leaves and Flowers
in Wax.
I, NINA FRANCES LAYARD, of 2 Park Place, Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The methods of producing casts of leaves and flowers as heretofore generally
practised have involved the use of moulds taken from the leaves and flowers. The
impressions are thus second hand and are rarely so satisfactory as would be the
case if the cast were taken direct from the leaf or flower.
Now the object of my invention is a new method of producing casts directly from
the leaf or flower without the intervention of moulds.
In carrying my invention into practical effect as applied to leaf casts I melt down
a sufficient quantity of paraffin or other wax and colour it by the addition of oil
paints so that it exactly matches the colour of the leaves to be treated.
Two fresh leaves resembling one another as far as possible in size and character
are now taken and the back of one of these painted by the aid of a camels-hair
brush with liquid wax coloured to match the surface. A suitable number of
coatings are thus applied so as to make the layer of wax of a sufficient thickness
and strength, and the wax then cooled and hardened preferably by plunging the
whole into cold water.
The front or upper surface of the second leaf is then similarly coated with a
layer of wax somewhat thinner than that applied to the back of the first leaf and
coloured to match the back, and before the wax on the second leaf has thoroughly
cooled and whilst still pliant, a waxed wire strip of wood or the like to form the
stalk is laid upon it and the two leaves then placed one on the other with their
waxed surfaces together and the second leaf gently worked by the fingers into the
shape of the first leaf.
The two leaves held together by the layers of wax adhering slightly are now
passed backwards and forwards over a candle flame or the like and the layers of
wax so caused to run and unite. The flame is then passed under the edges of the
leaves and these gently pressed together, care being taken not to flatten the leaves
while so doing. The edges of the leaves are now painted with wax and the whole
then cooled and hardened as before by plunging in water.
When the whole has cooled and hardened the leaves are removed from the wax
by the aid of forceps beginning preferably at the tips; great care being taken not
to break the wax especially when removing the mid-rib at the base.
In some cases such as where the leaf or flower or part of the latter is extremely
thin a cast of only one side may be taken this being effected by applying the wax and
subsequently stripping as above described.
Casts of flowers may be produced by my process in the same way as casts of
leaves the petals in the case of flowers being preferably produced separately and
built up into the flower by hand afterwards.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1.) The method of obtaining casts of leaves and flowers in wax consisting of the

page_text: application of a layer or layers of wax, coloured by the addition of oil paints, to the
opposite sides of two leaves or flowers or two individual parts of the latter,
subsequently uniting these layers of wax by the application of heat, and stripping
the leaves of flowers or individual parts of the latter from the united layers of wax
substantially as and in the manner described.
(2.) Wax casts of leaves and flowers obtained by the direct application of
the wax in a molten state to the surfaces of the leaves or flowers or
individual parts of the latter by means of a camels-hair brush or like instrument
as described.
Duted this 16th day of November 1894.
CASTLE SMITH,
Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
CASTLE SMITH,
"Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.