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John Toomey’s Blog.

At the moment I have two private commissions on the go. Both clients are in the UK.

The first project is a bronze half-life sized figure of a seafaring man (a fisherman).
The name of this piece is ‘' The Man of Arran’’
The method used is the lost wax process. The process is as follows.

(a) This consists of making a terra cotta figure of the desired object

(b) This stage is making a rubber mould.

(d) The wax model is encased in a plaster cast and cooked in a specialist oven for five days. After this period the wax has evaporated and in its place (cavity) is a direct likeness of the object

(e) This plaster cast is immersed in a sand pit and molten bronze is poured into the cavity.

(f) The plaster mould is left to cool and the object is taken from the mould.

(g) The object is then carefully fettled. Fettling is the final phase of preparation of the object. The runners and risers (methods of pouring and extracting air) are cut off and the object is carefully cleaned and burnished to clear away any imperfections on the object

(h) The final stage is the patination of the object.

Enclosed are pictures of the various stages of the above piece.

This is a one off piece and the owner of the original mould has given permission to produce the object but with variations. For example the original piece has the fisherman with a coiled rope in one hand and vertical oar in the other.

A future piece might have the fisherman holding an extended net or carrying a brace of salmon.

The second object is called the Agincourt.

This piece will consist of the following.

(a) A bronze base plinth.

(b) Rising from the plinth will be the form of a Yew Tree giving the impression of a growing tree and the formation of pagan Celtic Symbols. The top section of the tree will give the impression of the famous bowman ‘’V’’ sign.

(c) From the V sign will raise a half shaft of an Agincourt arrow surmounted by a full replica of an actual Agincourt arrow. The arrow will be able to pivot through 360 degrees and act as a weather vane.

(d) The central section will have a wide tilted compass rose on which will be imposed the compass points. This is to signify the expanding dominance of England during the following centuries.

The owners of this piece wish to hand to their family a record of their own heritage.
For example this item will have four surnames and places of birth engraved on the plinth. On this particular commission the compass rose will have a further three names with facilities to add others in the coming centuries.

Again this is a one off production but could be produced in a future figure have something else replacing the Agincourt arrow.

Below is a small selection of process photographs and we will produce full photographic details of the end products.

Members of the Toomey family carry out our all our work at The Meltdowns Studios Ramsgate .

This is a centre of excellence for fine art and sculpture.
www.melttdowns.co.uk

The foundry master at said studio is the renowned Stephen Melton.

Sarah Clark, Artist and Director.

Stacey Keeler Project Manager.