Vintage Victorian Bronze Clad Statue Sculpture Ercole & Lica Male Nude Hercules

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Vintage Victorian Bronze Clad Statue Sculpture Ercole & Lica Male Nude HerculesDescription Bronze Dimensions with Marble Base:Height 6" x Width 2"Weight : 1.5 LBSInventory : 54EP9901945This extremely unique piece features two nude bearded men in the midst of a very intense battle. Their stern faces show that they are very serious.One man has lifted the other man and has him upside-down, putting him in a very compromising position, as he grabs onto the other man in a very uncomfortable manner. This piece would make a great conversation starter! It would also make a great gift for a fighter or very strong person in your life.Cast in bronze in a deep, rich patina finish. A definite eye-catcher. Signed " P.A.T."The Art of Lost WaxLost wax casting has been around for thousands of years, yet few people understand how the process actually works.Although mechanization has facilitated the lost wax process of bronze casting, the procedure is basically the same as that used by the Chinese when they first developed the process in the 2nd millennium BC.The Rubber MoldFirst the artist creates an original sculpture out of any number of media, including stone, wax, clay, wood and pottery.This image is coated with a silicone rubber molding material that makes two rubber mold halves (each rubber mold has a front and a back piece). A fiberglass outer shell is added to the back of each mold so it retains its shape and rigidity during subsequent uses.These molds are the only components that are ever re-used in the casting process. All other components are re-created for each casting.The Wax PositiveOnce the molds are done, the insides are coated with layers of wax. The halves are then bound together and wax poured inside to complete the wax image being created.Once the wax has cooled, the mold is peeled away, yielding a wax image (the wax positive") duplicating the original sculpture.This image must then be "touched -up" to remove any seam lines, scratches or other flaws, as well as to recreate any pattern or texturing that was lost or damaged when the wax was made.The quality of the finished bronze relies on a clean, high quality mold and an impeccably recreated wax image that is as near to perfect as possible.GatingThe next step, "gating", is the application of a series of tubes and funnels that allow the molten bronze to flow through to the bottom of the ceramic shell and the hot gases to escape at the same time.These sprus are created by attaching wax rods to the finished wax form at strategically spaced locations.Ceramic Shell CastingAfter the gating is completed each wax form is dipped in a liquid ceramic silica-sand compound so it is completely coated inside and out. Holes called "patches" have been cut into the wax to allow an entrance to the inside of the form.The form is subsequently dipped 6 to 12 or more times over a period of several days until the desired shell thickness is achieved.Lost WaxOnce these ceramic shells have dried thoroughly the pieces are placed into an autoclave and the wax is melted out (hence the term "lost wax"), to be reclaimed and used again. The shells are then cured in a kiln so they will withstand the temperature of the molten bronze being poured into them.The PourBronze ingots are melted to a temperature of approximately 2000°F and poured into the cured ceramic shells.As the sculpture cools the ceramic shell begins to pop away from the bronze.This shell will be completely broken away, using a hammer and chisel, before the superfluous metal materials are cut away.SandblastingThe casting is then sandblasted in preparation for metal finishing.Any pieces of a sculpture that were cast separately are welded back onto the sculpture and any seam lines or other imperfections are removed or "chased".TexturingFinally, any texturing that was lost or damaged in the casting or welding process is recreated.The sculpture is then polished in preparation for application of the patina.PatinasThe different colored finishes that are possible on cast bronze sculptures are called patina's.The various colors, patterns and textures obtained in the patina process are achieved through a combined application of chemicals and heat, augmented by hand stippling, or spraying with an air brush, and sealed with lacquer and waxes.Limited EditionsMost bronzes are part of a "limited edition" containing a fixed number of castings.This edition number is decided by the artist, usually after the first piece has been cast, and individually stamped on each piece (i.e. 1/100) thus concluding the process of bronze sculpture production. Payment And ShippingPayment OptionsPayment for your purchase is expected within 10 days of the closing of the item's auction. Unpaid auction wins will be forfeited after 7 days.We accept Paypal and all Major Credit Cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express).Additional Payment InformationIf your payment is not received within this period, a non-payment claim will be filed. There is a 8.625% sales tax for New York residents.Most of our items are shipped via USPS (United States Postal Service) mail or Fedex. Most orders are shipped within 24-48 hours of purchase. Please be aware that not all items are available for USPS shipping due to size and weight. We do ship to Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Puerto Rico, APO/AE, and U.S. Virgin Islands, however, an additional charge may be required. Please contact us before making any purchases in these areas. For Non-USA customers, you may be responsible for all duty, tax, & brokerage fees that may be due upon delivery (shipping costs cover freight charges only).We also ship internationally. Please refer to the "Shipping & Handling" chart for the rates for each area.inkfrog terapeakinkFrog Analytics read more

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