Chef-modèle (preferred term)

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Definition

French term for a bronze replica of the artist’s model that is used to make molds for the production of large editions in sand casting. In rare cases, a chef-modèle has been used in lost-wax casting.

Note: Metal is used rather than plaster because it can better withstand the wear caused by repeated sand molding. To aid in mold making, the chef-modèle is often cast in sections that allows their removal from the sand mold without damaging the piece mold sections. The edition proofs (épreuves d’édition) produced with a chef-modèle are a kind of after-cast.

Homographs

Chef-modèle
Modèle, souvent en bronze, servant à marquer l’empreinte dans le moule en sable dans le cas de productions en série. Terme presque exclusivement utilisé pour la fonte au sable.

Synonyms

Chef-modèle†   Cuivre   Maître-modèle   Modèle   Modèle mère   Modèle-maître

Related Terms

Chef-modèle   Foundry model   Pattern

To Be Distinguished From

Sources

Cultural Heritage Publications

Grissom, C. A. and Harvey, Ronald (2003) ‘The Conservation of American War Memorials Made of Zinc’, Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, 42(1), pp. 21–38. doi: 10.1179/019713603806112859.
Barbour, D. and Sturman, S. (2017) ‘Casting Degas’s Sculptures into Bronze: A Closer Look’, in FACTURE: Conservation · Science · Art History, pp. 78–111., (p. 83)
Lebon, E. (2003) Dictionnaire des fondeurs de bronze d’art. France 1890-1950. Perth (Australie): Marjon éditions., (p. 14)

Category

objects

Getty AAT


Translations

English chef-modèle

Cultural Heritage Publications

Grissom, C. A. and Harvey, Ronald (2003) ‘The Conservation of American War Memorials Made of Zinc’, Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, 42(1), pp. 21–38. doi: 10.1179/019713603806112859.
Barbour, D. and Sturman, S. (2017) ‘Casting Degas’s Sculptures into Bronze: A Closer Look’, in FACTURE: Conservation · Science · Art History, pp. 78–111., (p. 83)
Lebon, E. (2003) Dictionnaire des fondeurs de bronze d’art. France 1890-1950. Perth (Australie): Marjon éditions., (p. 14)
English pattern

General Dictionaries

Merriam Webster Dictionary (no date). Available at: https://www.merriam-webster.com/.

Historical Sources

Bolland, S. (1894) The encyclopedia of founding and dictionary of foundry terms used in the practice of moulding. New York: Wiley.
Buchanan, J. (1903) Foundry Nomenclature. Londres: Spon.

Cultural Heritage Publications

Motture, P. (2019) The culture of bronze: making and meaning in Renaissance sculpture. London: V&A Publishing.
Spanish modelo de fundición
Spanish modelo definitivo
Italian modello
Italian modello di riferimento
Chinese 主铸型
Chinese 主铸模

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