Posted 8 years ago
lilminks2
(3 items)
I bought this from an old friend whose parents owned this piece. No idea the age or wood type. Pretty cool. She stands 18 inches tall. Hand carved. Looking for any identifying info.
Japanese woman statute made of wood | ||
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Your Japanese lady is Chinese and a model for lost wax molded figures.
Thank you for your info. What are lost wax molded figures.?
The process starts with a figure such as yours, but it can be anything, a marble, bronze, or ivory figure, vase, whatever. One or more molds are formed from the master which are then used to make wax figures, vases, etc.
Imperfections in the wax form are then corrected by adding or removing wax and polishing. The wax shape is coated with plaster or investment, placed in an oven or kiln, and the wax is burned out (lost). The resulting mold is filled with resin or composition, white for ivory, green translucent resin to resemble jade, red to imitate cinnibar. Molten bronze, pewter, gold, and silver etc. can be used. The shape is broken out of the investment and you have a replica of the original. Much of the Asian art comes from Italy.
Here are some examples from CW:
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/189529-cinnabar-vase?in=1018
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/186910-oriental-urn?in=1018
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/181908-unexpected-find?in=1018
Wexval, thank you so much for all the info. I would never have guessed Italy as its origins. And thank you for explaining the lost wax process. I'm learning alot. Bless you.