Fundraiser- "Slippery When Wet" Bronze Sculpture by David Manuel

Product Code: SKU-439
Availability: In Stock

Price: $3,950.00 $2,000.00
Ex Tax: $2,000.00

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This bronze sculpture from artist David Manuel, was donated to us as a fundraiser. This piece is named "Slippery When Wet" and depicts a mother mountain lion (cougar) and her three kittens (cubs). Full of personality, a combination of frustration and affection describes this family in it's natural habitat. The hint of a possible disciplinary action is at hand. This may remind you of your own family... The base is walnut and green marble. Copyright is 2000, this bronze is slightly larger than the previous Mother's Day series. At 19" x 11" the size puts this piece in it's own category. This sculpture is #138 of 250. This sculpture would be an excellent addition to any mountain home or cabin, or a retreat lodge or resort. If you love nature and/or the powerful mountain lion (cougar) then this bronze is just for you! Suggested value of this piece is $3950.00 by David Manuel in 2011. We have the certificate of authenticity from the original sale of this bronze.

"Lost Wax" Process
1. An artist's completed scultpure is taken to the foundry, bid, photographed, & measured.
2. It is then cut up so that the mold will pick up the most detail and pour well in wax and metal. The mold is made of silicone rubber then covered with a thick plaster outer mold.
3. Several (4) coats of wax are poured into the mold. Each coat being allowed to cool and then the mold is removed.
4. Wax chasers clean, repair, smooth, replace detail, cut windows, etc. to prepare the wax for the rest of the process.
5. The wax goes to be sprued which is attaching the waxes to a cup with sprue wax to make the channels for the metal to reach all parts of the piece.
6. Eight coats of slurry are then applied with 24 hours drying time between each coat to make a thick ceramic shell surrounding the wax.
7. These shells are then put in a burn out oven and heated to 1500 degrees to melt out the wax, leaving a cavity for the bronze.
8. The hot shells go into the foundry room and are heated from 1900 to 2100 degrees then filled with molten bronze.
9. Sledge and jack hammers are used to carefully chip the shell off so that the bronze can be sand blasted.
10. Metal toolers then begin welding the pieces back together, aligning, buffing, grinding, and reparing detail and texture until the sculpture looks at if is were cast in one piece.
11. The final process is patina. This is where color is put on with heat and chemicals then hot waxed to seal and stop any chemical action.