Kiln Cast, Lead Crystal Skull

A life size, anatomically accurate, kiln cast, Lead Crystal Skull with removable mandible.

Here is a product from a disaster shortly after the turn of the century. With a broken bone in the little finger and a cast from finger tips to just below the elbow all possibility went out the window of carving and sculpting stone, let alone attempting any jade carving. Unable to be productive in the normal sense of day to day activities carving jade the plastic model of a skull was bought out of the 'to do someday box'.
In this instance no wet grinding of jade was required, the master to be... light and easily manipulated with wounded hand. The project began by gluing all parts together before the long process of bogging, filling, priming and sanding could follow. Multi coats of filler primer sprayed over the model, sanded between each, finally culminated, after many days, with a satisfactory master from which to make the ATV, silicon rubber mold. A learning process in it's own right and one which deserves it's own tutorial site. Should sufficient interest be expressed a site for such instruction could be set up for those desiring knowledge of mold making...... contact Donn to affirm interest.

From fruits through the seeming mishap of broken bones unexpected interest in these skulls subsequently led to the development of a one piece smaller version, roughly the size of a fist.

One of the most fascinating aspects of these cast glass skulls is the variety of color available to use, especially the dichroic examples which change dramatically between incandescent and fluro light sources.

A brief explanation of the casting process for lead crystal can be seen here

And latest is the development of a yellow, uranium based glass which fluoresces brilliantly when exposed to an infrared light source, known as 'black light'.

Probably a first in the world is a trial cast of this glass which produced very promising results and will lead to unique sculptures of glass in the future.

To date Gaffer is the only firm, globally, to produce such a glass and may remain so as the protocols require international treaties be signed when using radioactive materials.