With a huge list of treasures that are enthusiastically sought after at every auction or store around the world, Lalique makes crystal lovers overwhelmed by its diverse and skillful manufacturing techniques. One of Lalique’s most proud crystal making methods is lost-wax, an industry that has created many captivating masterpieces, worthy of the company’s title of master craftsman.
From the red fire of the furnace…
Lost-wax, or flow molding, is the name for the technique of manufacturing particularly complex, often large and unique details. The Lalique family, or the original master René Lalique, used this method until the 1930s when using disposable plaster molds instead of the usual cast iron/steel molds.
nTo create a crystal item using the flow casting method, artisans will start by making two flexible molds: one to shape the outside of the finished product, the other to shape the inside. The flexibility of the mold allows the artist to create the most complex shapes, like the veins on a cicada’s wings or the vivid fur of a crystal figurine. When wax is poured into the above mold set, it will take the exact form of the expected crystal artifact.
The wax statue is then placed in a refractory plaster mold. The wax would be melted and drained, then another plaster cup would be used to pour the molten crystal into the now-empty mold – all done in a kiln and extremely carefully controlled.
The plaster mass is then gradually cooled and removed. During this process, if the plaster mold is damaged – meaning the crystal piece being conceived inside is affected, the craftsman with Lalique’s standards will be forced to destroy it and start over.
After that, each piece of crystal will be transferred to cold processing workshops in France (this name is to distinguish it from the previous high-temperature processing) for completion. Here, ⅔ of the work’s finishing stages will be done by cutting, chiseling or processing by cutting off excess details (usually appearing when pouring crystal into the mold), polishing, and satin brushing. Therefore, each crystal masterpiece crafted by Lalique using the lost-wax method is unique, each will be the only version of itself that exists in the world.
Go to unique masterpieces
Due to the “unique” nature of the finished product and the complexity and expense of using plaster molds, flow casting is sometimes used to create limited edition products. One of Lalique’s such creations is the Panda Collection created by the company in collaboration with artist Han Meilin. Pandas – China’s national treasure and also a gift once given by the Chinese to the French government – were recreated by artist Han Meilin on Lalique’s high-end crystal base with the pair of Pandas Yuan-Yuan and Meng-Meng. With rounded features and a calm, lovely temperament, the Panda appears in its original form as a creature with more than 3,000 years of history reigning in China through many ancient texts and many artistic artifacts.
The gentle temperament exuding from the round appearance of the Crystal Panda immediately captivates the gaze of the beholder. Capturing the uniquely lovely moments of natural life, every grooming or playing gesture of the Panda duo Yuan-Yuan and Meng-Meng comes out of Han Meilin’s rich imagination and takes shape with his innocent, childlike worldview. Crafted in limited quantities: Only 55 pieces for each model, the Panda Collection is a testament to Lalique’s skillful and unique manufacturing ability through the lost-wax method – flow molding.
Let’s admire the process of “conceiving” a cute Panda using Lalique’s premium crystal with the video below:
Lesson: Navigator Media
