Design Resource
Metal Icons of Thanjavur
The Art of Making Solid Images
by
Wax Modeling
The wax used is beeswax called ‘Thenmezhugu’ in Tamil. Since pure wax cannot be used for modelling it is mixed with Kunkiliyan and a little amount of groundnut oil. This mixture is passed through cold water and then through the basin of Lukewarm water, which makes the wax flexible. This mixture is rolled up into rods and slabs and is known as “Mezhugu”.
A Spatula, which is made of sandalwood, is used in the making of wax models. Sthapathis are the ones who make the wax model. The Sthapathi makes the rough outline in the wax model of the different parts of the body by hand and then works out the details with the help of a Spatula. He uses a hammer and a chisel to carve out details like the ornaments. The basic attitudes of the limbs, the torso and the face should be achieved in the wax model itself. It cannot be changed when it is transferred into a metal cast.
