Note: When used in reference to general sculptural practice, the term may refer to a rough sketch made in order to work out the composition (bozzetto, modello, esquisse or maquette) or may refer to a more complete model (presentation model), sometimes used to obtain approval, e.g. from a patron, or as a record or reference. Because a cast may be the outcome of numerous steps of models and molds, it may be best to refer to the closest model of a cast as "precursor model" (e.g., the wax model melted out of the investment to create a particular lost wax cast) since it can be difficult to identify the relationship of a bronze cast to the earliest model in its genealogy. "Precursor model" is a term newly proposed here.
Note: Pattern is the term more commonly used in sand casting.