THE EDWARD WINSLOW PROJECT – DROITWICH – SARA INGLEBY-MACKENZIE
THE EDWARD WINSLOW PROJECT AND SARA INGLEBY-MACKENZIE
DROITWICH
A quarter size statue of Edward Winslow was placed in St. Andrews Square, Droitwich, Worcestershire, England. Edward Winslow was born in Spa town of Droitwich in 1595 and was the founder of the Plymouth Colony in America. He became a famous pilgrim leader some time after he emigrated on the famous Mayflower Ship and also became one of the commissioners of the United Colonies of New England.
Edward Winslow
Frome based artist Sara Ingleby-Mackenzie was commissioned by Khandahar (Droitwich Ltd) to sculpt Edward Winslow and the original was made in clay and translated into bronze by ourselves at Art of A Fine Nature.
Sara Ingelsby-Mackenzie
HOW WE MADE THE EDWARD WINSLOW SCULPTURE INTO BRONZE
At Art of A Fine Nature we always use the same method of bronze casting for all of our commissions and our own range of bronzes. This is called lost wax casting and consists of 16 different processes done in a methodical order. Much of the process is outlined in the page about our Nelson The Seal project so it all follows the same systems. Edward Winslow was recreated from a clay original that Sara sculpted.
Original clay of Edward Winslow
Ship ahoy !
First we made the mould of Edward as he needed to be reproduced in wax. We use our rubber coating in layers that are built up and then a hard outer fibre-glass casing to strengthen the mould and hold it in place firmly whilst we pour in the wax.
We then take out the wax version of him to make various sections, after we attach a system of runners and risers in wax, (this allows the molten bronze to feed smoothly into the piece).
Once the wax sculpture has been what we call in the trade “treed up”, it’s into the coating room where we apply a series of ceramic shell layers. These have to be bone dry inbetween each coating. Once there are sufficient layers of shell, forming an outer mould around the wax sculpture, these hard moulds are fired in the furnace. This burns out the wax and at the same time fires the shell coating into a rock hard state. The moulds are now ready to be filled with moulten bronze.
The next stage for Edward Winslow after his mould has been filled with molten bronze and has cooled down, is the fetling process where all the hard shell on the outside of the solidified bronze is chipped off. All the details of Winslow have to be cleaned up as the shell hides in the crevases and nooks and crannies, not an easy job, but an essential one. We use a series of pneumatic power tools, sanders and dremmels to revive Winslow to his original glory.
Once all the bronze work is pristine and finished to a high quality, the next stage can be applied. He would need to have the application of colour to give him character and depth, so we use Patinas, various chemical solutions applied and fixed with a blow torch to stabilize the colour.
This is our speciality and a very much sought after addition to many customers sculpture. So the bronze Edward Winslow is finally born. Stunning and resplendent in all his glory, ready to be admired and remembered for all his bravery and devotion.
