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The Making of Wax Sculptures

The decision to invest in another wax figure is, as Winston Churchill said but in a different context:

". . . not the end, or even the beginning of the end. It is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."

The wax museum must determine the scene and the location within the scene that a new personality will occupy. The sculptors in England can then be given direction in terms of an appropriate facial expression, hand postures, and other relevant data that contributes to a satisfactory product. Costume designers can also be called into the project at this stage for situations where authentic reproductions are called for.

Upon receipt in London of the order for a new wax sculpture, the immediate need is to ascertain all sources of information concerning the appearance and physical dimensions of the subject, presuming that the individual is not available for an "impression" session with the sculptors themselves. Such data may be gleaned from portraits, photographs, written documentation, and from personal care professionals such as tailors, hairdressers, and dentists.

Making the armature: when the necessary information has been collected and the pose decided, the sculptor makes this metal frame to support the clay.	Modeling in clay: the sculptor builds up the entire figure in clay.	Molding the head: a plaster mould of about 12 pieces is made from the clay head. The pieces are removed and reassembled to receive molten wax.	When the wax has cooled and hardened, the pieced of the plaster head mould are removed.	Meanwhile a plaster mould of the body has been made and lined with fiberglass. Here, the mould is chipped away to reveal the body.	After fitting glass eyes into the hollow wax head, real hair is inserted hair by hair into the warmed scalp, then washed, trimmed and dressed.

With the necessary data obtained, the soon-to-be-wax portions of a figure are sculpted in clay from which is a plaster mould is created. The bees-wax, containing a variety of compounds for colour, improved sculpting quality, and increased heat resistance is poured into this plaster mould and allowed to cool and "cure". Medical glass eyes that have been matched to the colour of the actual person are inserted, along with some dentures if the facial expression is one of a smile or open mouth.

The next step, which on average calls for sixty hours of concentration, is insertion of the hair, one strand at a time. For male figures, this insertion process may extend to the hands, arms and perhaps even the chest. As the natural bees-wax can neither be repositioned nor support its own weight in the amounts that would be required for a full human figure, a fibreglass body (structurally designed to accommodate the wax portions and allow body repositioning) is fashioned to replicate the individual's body dimensions. If the costuming consultants are involved, then the costume is now fitted to the wax figure.

The minimum time frame from placing an order until the completed wax figure arrives for installation is six months. Two of the ’90’s arrivals, former U.S. President Bill Clinton and soon-to-be former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, took eight months and fourteen months, respectively. The intervening time is well used accomplishing any scene changes required, and researching the individual's life story to enable story-telling.