| To make a bronze vessel, a clay model of the bronze vessel-to-be
had to be fashioned. When it
hardened, soft clay was pressed against it, taking on the negative impression of
both its shape and decoration. These clay pieces were removed in sections
to form the piece-molds. The model was then
shaved down to become the core ( the walls of the bronze
vessel would exactly equal in thickness this layer that had been shaved off).
The piece-molds were then reassembled around the core. Molten bronze would
then be poured into the space between the mold and the core. After
cooling, the mold pieces were removed. Pre-cast appendages were often
inserted into the core-mold assemblage before casting; when the vessel
was produced, they became locked into place as the metal was poured
in.
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What does this sophisticated method of casting bronze imply about the level of ceramic technology during the same period? |
