PRODUCT

Hidden Art Reproduction from “eBronzeMart”
“Hercules and the Cerynitian Hind”
A. Canova
Italy c1875
Real Bronze
Lost Wax Casting Process

CERYNITIAN HIND. The stag of Ceryneia in Arcadia. This animal had golden antlers and brazen feet. It had been dedicated to Artemis by the nymph Taygete, because the goddess had saved her from the pursuit of Zeus.
Although the golden horned Cerynitian hind was sacred to Artemis, Eurystheus ordered Hercules to bring it to him alive. It would have been easy enough to kill the beast, but capturing it proved challenging.
After a year of trying to capture it, Hercules broke down and shot it with an arrow — apparently NOT one of those he’d previously dipped in the hydra’s blood.
The arrow didn’t prove fatal, but did provoke the indignation of the goddess Artemis. However, when Hercules explained his mission, she understood, and let him be.
He was thus able to carry the beast alive to Mycenae and King Eurystheus.
Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

We Can Do Custom Bases and Patina Work on Request

How Is It Made?

The “Lost Wax” Process

Bronze sculpture is not easy to make and there are many time consuming, difficult steps involved. In a world of hi-tech mass production, bronze casting remains essentially unchanged.
 Each of our genuine bronze castings is in reality an “original” and the following explains why. 
These are the basic steps involved in creating a bronze Sculpture using the classic “cire perdue” (lost wax) process:

• artist’s original model
• silicone mold of the model
• create lost wax mold
• bronze casting
• clean mold from casting
• grind, rasp and file bronze
• assemble pieces by welding
• file and finish assembled piece
• polishing
• application of patina

When the wax cast is hardened and the vents are in place a ceramic shell
is formed over the wax. This shell is made by dipping the wax into a
slurry, coating it with sand, drying and repeating the process up to 14
times. A core consisting of plaster, ground brick and water is poured into
the interior of the wax mold. After the ceramic shell and core have set,
the mold is fired in an oven, the wax is melted and the ceramic shell is
left intact. This process is known in French as “cire perdue” (lost wax).
Molten bronze is now poured into the cavity left by the melted wax. When
the bronze is cooled, the shell is chipped away using a hammer and chisel.

The bronze must now be repaired and finished. This step is called
“chasing” and it is a difficult process because the metal is involved. Any
imperfection such as air pockets of pits must be brazed with bronze rod,
as in welding. All seams and spurs must be removed by grinding, rasping
and, finally, sanding. The next step is to chase or hammer the vents from
the mold using special tools. The natural bronze has a dull finish. after
final finishing, a patina is applied which may be left matte of polished.
Chemicals, pigments, heat, safety equipment and a lot of experience are
involved. In addition, since bronze comes in a variety of alloys, the
patina requires different chemicals and techniques.

When shopping for bronze art work, beware of terms such as “cold cast” or
“bonded bronze.” These are misleading names given to plastic figurines. If
you are unsure of the authenticity of an item that you see elsewhere, feel
free to call us at 1-800-321-8618 for an honest and professional opinion.