Mould Making

Design Resource

Terracotta Idols - Vellore

The Black Clay Craft

Prof. Bibhudutta Baral, Shruti K.andVijay G.

Mould Making

A master idol piece is first made with facial details/features with proper measurement to prepare the mould. The mould is 2inch thick and consists of two parts to form one idol. Reference designs of the idol are taken from sources like photos, books, Internet, calendars or newspapers. Once the idol is prepared, a flat strip of clay is joined to the idol to hold the mould paste. Solution of Grease and Kerosene is applied on the idol so that the mould mixture doesn't dominate the design. The mould is divided in three layers.

In the first layer mixture of dental casting powder is used. This casting powder is used to get detail impressions of the idol in the mould. After the first layer is dried, mixture of twenty percent of cement and seventy percent of pop (plaster of parish) and ten percent of dental casting powder is applied. On the last layer coconut fiber is dipped in the mixture of cement and pop powder is applied.

After the mould is dried to an extent, the supportive clay strip is removed using a knife. The same method is repeated to prepare the other side of the mould. Before making the other side of the mould a thin layer of soap is applied on the edges of the one side finished mould, so that the either side of the mould doesn't stick to each other. The prepared mould is kept in room temperature to dry almost for a week.

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Terracotta Idols - Vellore