Cured silicone mold of original clay sculpture.

Silicone mold removed from clay sculpture, ready to receive casting wax.

Hot melted red casting wax "painted" into silicone mold until average thickness of 3/8" is achieved.

Front view of casting wax model, artist's proof.
18" wingtip to wingtip
15" eagle's head to sword tips.

Oblique front view of casting wax model, atist's proof.

Front view of wax model with cup, gates, vents, sprues.

Side view of wax model with cup, gates, vents, sprues.

Back view of wax model with cup, gates, vents, sprues.

Front view of wax model with 10 coats of ceramic shell.
Cup at top as it would be for the actual bronze pour.

View of ceramic shell, after the wax has been burned out - cup end into which bronze is poured.

View of ceramic shell, after the wax has been burned out - cup end into which bronze is poured.
Note the 8 vents along the cup edge to let gases excape.

June 30, 2006
This is what it is all about!
Moment of truth - about 50 lbs of 2000 degree molten bronze being poured into the ceramic shell mold on 6/30/06.
Jon Steel on the right in jeans and leathers - "hands on" sculpting!

12 hours later, bronze finally cool enough to touch.
The "button" of bronze after the pour.

Breaking ceramic shell off the front.

Breaking ceramic shell off the back.

Using pneumatic hammer to remove ceramic shell off the back.

Using angle grinder to cut off vents, sprues, gates.

After lots of sandblasting, grinding, sanding & polishing, dark patina applied to front upper half as a test for final coloration.

Front view, patinated, polished - essentially finished

Detail of upper half.

Oblique view to show 1.5 inch bas relief depth