Foundry Services
"Lost wax casting is quite an involved process but it does offer the artist an enormous freedom of form when modelling." - Alan Crawford
The lost wax process (or cire perdue) is an ancient art form of metal casting. A model or pattern of the finished art work is made in wax, surrounded by a ceramic investment which holds the mould. This encased mould is heated to melt away the wax which is then 'lost'. Metal (bronze, aluminium) is then poured into the vacant mould to create the final metal sculpture. Lost wax process is also called investment casting or precision casting because detail as intricate as fingerprints can be cast.
Crawford's Casting provides a wide range of services to suit the individual needs of the client. The integrity of the artwork is maintained to a high standard throughout all areas of the casting process.
Master-moulding: The creation of a negative mould from the artists original. Artists have the freedom to work in many forms including plasticine, wet/dry clay, wax and other organic materials from which a mould is made.
Investment: Investment of wax patterns. Creation of ceramic negative mould around wax patterns. Crawfords can invest wax patterns provided by others or those created at the foundry.
Casting: Bronze and aluminium casting: Crawfords can pour into investments provided by others or those created at our foundry. Crawford's uses one of the largest known fine-art casting crucibles in Australia.
