Our Services

Restoration
This process can involve as little as a clean and polish to a full weld repair and re-patina. The majority of restorations can be done on site.

Origination / modelling/ scaling up – down
Sculpture can start with just an idea. With over ten years of experience in sculpture we at Wolf & Stone aim to assist artists in reaching their goals. A close relationship with the artists is encouraged to achieve the best results. Enlargements can be made from any size maquette. Models can be made from outline sketches, drawings or photographs, even the beginning of an idea.

Mould Making
A rubber coating covers the surface of the original. This enables every detail to be replicated. The rubber coating is partitioned into sections to ensure no distortion occurs when the original is removed. A fibreglass or plaster casing is then applied to strengthen and protect the mould. The mould is now ready to head to the next stage, wax work.

Wax Work
By using a mould created from the original sculpture we can create a wax hollow casting. The wax casting is achieved by painting layers of wax into the mould then joining any seams with a swill of wax. Time is then spent on the wax casting removing blemishes.
At this time it is advisable for the artist to look over the casting and approve it for the next stage, ceramic shell investment.

Ceramic Shell Investment
A wax sprue system is attached to the wax casting before the first of several coatings of liquid and powdered silicate.
The ceramic shell encased sculpture is then heated to harden and melt out the inner wax. The remaining void is the exact replica of the original sculpture. The shell is now ready for the next stage, the pour.

Sand Casting
Sand casting is quick and economical way to create bronze sculpture. Although results have a textured finish.

The Pour
The empty ceramic shells are now ready. They are supported in a bed or pit of sand. Bronze ingots are heated in a furnace up to approximately 1200 degrees centigrade. The melted bronze is poured into the top of the ceramic shell and evenly distributed via the sprue system. After a cooling period the sculpture is ready for the next stage, chasing – metal work.

Chasing – Metal Work
Once cooled the ceramic shell containing the bronze sculpture is removed or “knocked off”. All sprues are now cut away from the bronze sculpture, and are “chased”. This means these areas are worked until there is no trace, leaving the bronze sculpture as an exact duplicate of its original. Larger sculptures may have to be cast in sections. These are then welded together and are also chased. During this process the artist is encouraged to examine the bronze sculpture to ensure the quality and also of any alterations or adjustments are required. Once approved the bronze sculpture is ready for the next stage, patination.

Patination
Working closely with the artist, the desired colour or effect can be achieved during the final stage of the bronze casting process. Patination is the application of chemicals combined with heat to create a wide variety of finishes. The final layer is a renaissance wax to protect the finished sculpture.

Transport, Installation and Packaging
The transport and installation of larger sculptures can be troublesome. Here at Wolf & Stone we have gained invaluable experience of handling and packaging sculpture, during a close working relationship with Mtec – Specialists in Art and Sculpture Transport and Installation. Packing cases can be built to artist’s specifications