I decided this fall to model a full sized full bodied sculpture after this pair of winged lions outside the Merchants bank. One of the lions was smashed twice by being pulled over, and subsequently repaired. It was never installed right to prevent that in the first place, that it happened AGAIN in 2008 after being “restored” a few years earlier, is inexcusable. The other lion had some cracks in it and was removed, it was said both were going to either be repaired, or I assume replaced, almost certainly with cheap (to me) replicas made of fiberglass or concrete. The lions are at sidewalk level, and they measure 48″…

Quick clip of the mostly dry model for size Model 27

Now that the education panel model is a little past the leather hard stage I have it set aside to finish drying. It may yet wind up a little larger than I scaled for due to differences in clay shrinkage. I decided to make the lioness model the same size as my wolf model is, I still have the template assembly I used to shape the clay round and concave, this would make it 20″ across with a 1″ border. I also need to locate some good photos of the subject at hand, especially side views of lioness’ heads for depth. I may start it this week once I finish…

Think I figured out who made the lioness roundel, very likely American Terra Cotta co in Chicago, whose territory certainly would have included St Louis Mo. I found in my book on the co history, a page from their old newsletter which is about 1914 showing a sampling of roundels for a livestock judging pavillion built for the University of illinois. These have similar borders, and the quality of modelling with detail is strikingly similar, not that other TC co’s couldn’t do this, but the location and history make this co a likely one. If so, then it’s also likely a well known Kristian Schneider was the modeller.

Below is a photo of a concrete cast of lion 3886, unstained. This is 1 of 7 for a client who required embedded bolts on these to attach them to the wall on the exterior of his house over the windows. This is just an example of some of the custom applications I am called upon to provide solutions for on retro- installations. As the client has access to the inside walls, his contractor will be able to drill 2 holes through the wood wall, spread on some thinset mortar or equiv., insert the rods through the wall and tighten the nuts up. Outside he plans to stucco around the…

This model is finished today, I hollowed out the backside and it’s firming up nicely. Finished image I don’t plan to make a mold of this immediately, but can do so at any time. I have 2 other model ideas in mind to accomplish before summer closes, that lioness roundel detailed further below this post, and a small version of the Commodore Hotel sun-god copper cornice mask. Also, after some consideration, I decided to eliminate the “-R” extension in my model numbering system. When I began my sculpting career I decided to add that “-R” to each model number I sculpted, so as to put a designated barrier between my…

I finished casting the last of 12 panels in resin for a client who wants them for her bathroom. Attached a photo of 8 of them stacked against the wall awaiting cleaning up and finishing, several together offer some interesting design ideas. These will be solvent cleaned and then they get primed with automotive primer and painted dirty nickel. These will go around the bathroom walls as a frieze near the ceiling.

I saw a photo of a very charming, very interesting sculpture on what was originally the offices of US Steel Co., 311 South Sarah st, St Louis. In fact, on this small one story building there are 7 of them! I really like this! It was once a US Steel office but is now occupied by the US Metals & Supply Co, probably a subsidiary of theirs. I’ve so far found absolutely nothing on this building which is surprising. The roundel appears to be about 24″ in diameter, and is overlaid on an oblong rectangular panel. I’m definitely considering making a model. By the way, as I discovered on a…

While waiting for the new model to firm up a bit more as the moisture evaporates from the clay slowly to finish detailing, refining and cleaning up the design, a client contacted me about my Art Deco panel 8B and the possibility of casting 12 of them thin to be used as tiles in her bathroom remodelling project. After exchanging several emails about her project and discussing options, costs, advantages, disadvantages, I decided this project would work best with these cast being made in resin which is strong, lightweight, can be cast thin, and will accept the paints I use for most of my finishes. As the client wanted the…

8-7-10 photo; Earlier photos; I am thinking about adding something in the 2 bottom corners, so those are left unfinished for now! Update; I experimented with a raised area in each corner but decided I didn’t like how it looked afer all, so the corners are just mitered. A bit of historical trivia, from the July, 12th, 1898 NY Times; The new seal of the Board of Education was used for the first time yesterday.The design is an open book, resting against the torch of wisdom, and surrounded by a wreath of ivy. Around the wreath are the words: Board of Education, City of New York.”