THE MAKING OF A WAXWORK

Before a waxwork figure can be created some careful preparations need to be undertaken. Photographs & information relating to the subject must be collected and carefully studied. The sculptor then begins modelling the head in clay and three or four weeks of perseverance may be required until the sculptor is happy with his work.

Wherever possible, a subject will visit the waxworks for a sitting where photographs & measurements can be taken to ensure accuracy. With the clay portrait complete, a plaster mould is made around it. This is later removed from the head & reassembled like a three dimensional jigsaw puzzle, forming a hollow plaster shell.

The mould is then filled with molten wax and when the wax has cooled, the mould is removed to reveal a hollow wax head. Glass eyes & acrylic teeth of exact colour & size are fitted & correctly aligned.

The unenviable task of hair insertion may take weeks, as each hair has to be inserted strand by strand! The hairdresser can then dress the hair appropriately.
Using a mix of oil paint & cosmetics, the make up artist colours the head referring to photographs to achieve a life like appearance.
Certain figures require costumes, which exactly match those used in a film or period of history. These costumes need to be specially designed & made to fit the figure. At this stage the wax head can be fitted to the glass fibre body and dressed. Hands are moulded from life using a flexible compound called alginate which is normally used by dentists to make moulds of their patients' teeth, although in recent years has been used extensively for special effects in the film industry, to make moulds of virtually anything.

Finally, the completed figure is displayed in an appropriate setting within the exhibition. The time taken from the initial research to completed figure can be up to two months.