0 6 4
0 6 5
C H E ST O F D R AW E R S
CHISELED BRONZES
THE BRONZES ARE ALLOYS OF VARYING
COLORS AND TEXTURES, MADE OF
COPPER AND TIN MIXED IN DIFFERENT
PROPORTIONS. LOST WAX CASTING IS THE
MOST COMMON TECHNIQUE FOR MAKING
BRONZE ART OBJECTS, PERFECTED OVER
THE MILLENNIA, REACHING ITS PEAK IN
CLASSICAL ANTIQUITY. THE FORM TO BE
MADE IS SHAPED IN CLAY AND COATED
WITH A LAYER OF WAX, WHICH IS THEN
COVERED WITH CLAY. AFTER MELTING THE
WAX IN THE KILN, THE MOLTEN METAL
IS CAST IN THE CAVITY LEFT BETWEEN
THE INTERNAL MOLD AND THE OUTER
TERRACOTTA SHELL. THE RESULTING
PIECE IS THEN CAREFULLY FINISHED WITH
THE CHISEL TO SHAPE FIGURES AND
ORNAMENTS ON ITS SURFACE. LASTLY, THE
GILDING IS DONE BY APPLYING A LAYER OF
GOLD LEAF ON THE SURFACE.
NAPOLEON
C H E ST O F D R AW E R S
