Skip to content
Smithsonian
Current Language
Freer and Sackler Galleries logo Freer|Sackler
  • Visit
    • About Us
    • Find Your Way
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Your Family
    • Just for Teens
    • Walk-in tours
    • Self-guided groups
    • Tours for schools
    • Tours for adults
  • Exhibitions
    • Current Exhibitions
    • Past Exhibitions
    • Future Exhibitions
  • Events
    • Films
    • Performances
    • Kids
    • Tours
    • Talks
    • Workshops
    • After Hours
    • Celebrations
  • Collections
    • American Art
    • Ancient Egyptian Art
    • Ancient Near Eastern Art
    • Arts of the Islamic World
    • Biblical Manuscripts
    • Chinese Art
    • Contemporary Art
    • Japanese Art
    • Korean Art
    • South Asian and Himalayan Art
    • Southeast Asian Art
    • New Acquisitions
  • Learn
    • For Educators
    • Kids and Families
    • For Teens
    • Apps
    • Podcasts
    • Blog
  • Research
    • Publications
    • Conservation & Scientific Research
    • Fellowships & Internships
    • Scholarly Programs
    • Resources for Researchers
    • Awards & Prizes
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Become a Member
    • Areas of Support
    • Host Your Special Event
    • Volunteer
  • Search
  • Home
  • Learn
  • India: Shiva Nataraja (Lord of the Dance)
  • Bronze Casting
  • Images: Bronze Casting

Images: Bronze Casting

Incomplete wax sculpture being worked on by a pair of metal tweezers holding a small piece of dammar resin.
Rough wax sculpture, yet lacking arms.
Artist's hands working to sculpt a delicate forearm and hand out of wax.
Two young artists packing clay around a wax model of a figure.
Wax figure obscured by several layers of clay.
Clay-encased wax model held together with thick metal wires.
Young man tending to a mud and straw covered brick fire pit as smoke vents through a hole in the top.
Metalworkers pouring a crucible of molten metal into the mold.
After cooling for several days, the clay mold is broken to reveal a rough version of the sculpture.
Sculptor chipping away clay with hammer and chisel to reveal shiny metal beneath.
Sculptors carefully removing clay from the sculpture's face.
Nearly-finished sculpture, polished to a shine except for the face, which is still dull and gray, waiting to be polished by the master craftsman.

Back to Bronze Casting

Visit
  • About Us
  • Find Your Way
  • Family Programs
  • For Schools
  • For Teens
Exhibitions
  • Current Exhibitions
  • Future Exhibitions
  • Past Exhibitions
Learn
  • For Educators
  • Kids and Families
  • Just for Teens
  • Apps
  • Podcasts
Events
  • All Events
  • Films
  • Performances
  • Tours
  • Kids
  • Talks
  • Workshops
  • Celebrations
Collections
  • Search
Support
  • Donate
  • Become a Member
  • Areas of Support
  • Host Your Special Event
  • Volunteer
Languages
  • English
Research
  • Publications
  • Conservation & Scientific Research
  • Fellowships & Internships
  • Symposia & Conferences
  • Resources for Researchers
Blog
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • YouTube
Smithsonian
  • About Us
  • Press
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy
Copyright © 2019 Smithsonian Institution
Powered by WordPress