The Making of Sculpture: The Materials and Techniques of European Sculpture

by Marjorie Trusted

This is a historical and technical guide to the materials and techniques of European sculpture, based on the collections at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Casting, carving and modelling practices are explored within a historical perspective, from medieval times onwards. Edited by Marjorie Trusted, and with a foreword by Paul Williamson, the book contains a series of chapters by specialist staff at the V&A.
Chapter 1 (by Norbert Jopek), looks at working practices of sculptors
Chapter 2 (by Alexandra Corney) looks at wax
Chapter 3 (by Wendy Fisher) at terracotta
Chapter 4 (by Fisher, Melissa Hamnett and Peta Motture) at bronze and lead 
Chapter 5 (by Lucy Cullen, Fisher, Hamnett and Trusted) at medals and plaquettes
Chapter 6 (by Trusted) at marble and stone
Chapter 7 (by Fergus Cannan) at alabaster
Chapter 8 (by Jopek and Trusted) at ivory and bone
Chapter 9 (by Jopek and Sofia Marques) at wood
Chapter 10 (by Cullen, Jopek and Trusted) at semi-precious materials Chapter 11 (by Diane Bilbey and Ruth Cribb) at plaster models, plaster casts, electrotypes and fictile ivories, while the final chapter, by Jopek, examines the subject of fakes.
Beautiful colour photography highlights the collections and illustrates contemporary workshop practices. This is an essential guide for anyone with an interest in sculpture.

192 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2007