The Story of a Bangle
Do you know how to turn wax into precious metal?
My Shimmer Bangle is made by first hand carving a wax model then using the lost wax casting method to make a replica in metal. This method of casting dates back 6000 years. It has endured as it's still an excellent way of creating intricate shapes which can then be reproduced with great accuracy.
Here I explain the processes involved.
First of all I cut a slice - approximately bangle-sized from a block of wax.
Much blue dust created!
Then a circular shape is cut out.
Using a file I shape the bangle, smoothing the inside edge and giving texture to the outside.
My wax model is now ready to send to the casters.
The casters then place this wax model into a casting flask. Plaster is poured in, surrounding the model. Then the contained wax model is melted out - leaving its negative space - and metal poured in. A centrifuge makes sure that air bubbles are expelled and that the metal has filled every space.
My metal bangle is sent back to me and then I tidy it up and polish it well. When I'm completely happy I send this back to the casters so that a mould can be made. A mould is only required if I want to be able to easily reproduce one of my designs in the future.
Here is my master bangle after having its mould made. The central piece creates a channel to allow the metal to flow more easily when being cast.
So when I order another bangle, the casters will make a new wax model from the mould which is then cast, as above, in the metal of my choice.
The finished piece. My unique design with its carefully carved textures, perfectly cast in solid silver.
Which metal would you choose? Do you prefer silver or gold? Is that yellow or rose gold?! Or maybe platinum...so many choices and all of them beautiful. Maybe one of each then...
xx