Diagram depicting an example of life-casting:
1) the lizard is placed in a bed of clay; rolls of wax are strategically joined to the lizard to form the sprue system; a clay wall is then built around it;
2) a plaster-based slurry is poured over the lizard and sprue system, embedding the lizard and sprues, forming the top half of the refractory mold;
3) when set, the mold is turned over, the bottom clay slab is removed, and new clay walls are built up to contain the other half of the mold and additional refractory material is poured in;
4) the mold is heated until dry; the wax and as much of the lizard as possible are burned away; the bone remnants can be removed by opening the mold;
5) the two sides of the mold are clamped together and filled with molten bronze;
6) the refractory mold and sprue system are removed from the cast;
7) the finishing of the solid bronze includes sharpening of details as needed and patination.
Diagram based on research related to the Making and Knowing Project at Columbia University. See Lacey, Andrew, and Siân Lewis. 2020. “In Pursuit of Magic.” In Secrets of Craft and Nature in Renaissance France: A Digital Critical Edition and English Translation of BnF Ms. Fr. 640, edited by Pamela H. Smith, Naomi Rosenkranz, Tianna Helena Uchacz, Tillmann Taape, Clément Godbarge, Sophie Pitman, Jenny Boulboullé, Joel Klein, Donna Bilak, Marc Smith, and Terry Catapano. New York: Making and Knowing Project. https://edition640.makingandknowing.org/#/essays/ann_501_ad_20..