Mold for Jewelry

Unknown

19th century · Clay, heavy white metal · Islamic Art

These two bangles still encased in their mold provide evidence of lost wax casting that would normally be removed. In this process, a wax model is covered with a refractory clay envelop and fired, hardening the clay and causing the wax to run out of an access channel that had also been formed in the wax. Molten metal is then poured into the mold filling the space previously held by the wax. After the mold is broken away, the cast access points including the bowl-shaped sprue seen at the top and the connecting gates are cut off and the metal surface is polished.

Artist

Unknown

Date

19th century

Medium

Clay, heavy white metal

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of Sir Purdon Clarke, 1907