Lost-wax casting

DEFINITION

A casting process for which a sculptor must first produce his sculpture in wax. He creates a mold around this made of refractory materials. When the mold is heated, the wax melts away, so that molten metal can replace it, reproducing exactly the original wax sculpture. Also known by the French term cire-perdue (pr. SEER-payr-DOO).Also see core, direct casting, indirect casting, investment, rodding, sincere, sprue, and articles about the various metals.