1. The original piece is usually solid - plaster, wood, wax, clay etc. Imagine it in cross section.

2. Catalysed rubber is painted or poured on to capture fine detail and eliminate undercuts.

3. A rigid "mother" mold of plaster or fiberglass is built over the rubber, with parting lines so it can be removed.

4. Mother mold is pulled off and rubber peeled away. The original is removed. Rubber and mother are closed up and tied shut.

5. Melted wax is poured in & out until a hollow duplicate approx. 3/16 inch thick is formed.

6. The wax is removed from mother and rubber. Pouring cup, sprues and vents of wax are attached. Core pins are pushed through.

7. A core of investment - sand & plaster mixed - is poured into the wax, lokking on the pins.

8. Investment is poured or built around the wax up to the cup, locking the other end of the pins, so the core will not shift.

9. The investment mold is heated in the kiln up to 1000° F over 50 hours or more to completely remove all moisture and wax.

10. The mold is packed in sand & molten bronze (2100° F) poured in.

11. The investment is chipped & sandblasted away from inside and outside the piece.

12. Cup, sprues, vents & pins are cut away, and imperfections repaired or "chased." Mounting bolts may be welded on. Chemicals and heat give the work a patina. It's done!