OUR KNOW HOW
The Maison Max LE VERRIER not only produces in bronze and art cast from the exclusive original models and molds of Max Le VERRIER, but also produces the work of other sculptors, in the same manner and traditional know-how of the past.
Each sculpure is hand-made by highly-skilled craftsmen, only upon request.
Our atelier relies on a manual finish only. Since its creation in 1926, we focus on the manual work for each step of the production of one sculpture.
The founding
The founder manually pours, with a ladle, the molten metal, which may reach 400° Celsius, into the original molds (dating back to the 1930’s and made by Max Le VERRIER himself), to create, after a slight drop in temperature, the requested sculpture.
The casting is a very delicate moment in the process which remains magical. It finalises the sculptor’s work. It is rather decisive, as the quality of this casting will define the later, finished work.
Chasing and Assembling
The casted sculpture is now given to the chasing worker.
With all types of small chisels, files, scrapers, burnishers…, the chasing worker has to remove the burrs, scratches and weldings with meticulous care. He retouches, giving life to small details of the future sculpture. This is the moment when the chasing worker shows all his virtuosity. He then finishes his work with a delicate polishing.
Assembling consists of assembling the sculptures in different ways: welding the different components of one sculpture (there can be 6-7 molds for only one large statue)… filing the joining parts, piercing, tapping, milling, and all of these processes in a varying order depending on each piece of art.
Patina
When the sculpture leaves the atelier, it is glossy and has a light shade of colour. Then it is patined using one of the following methods:
the powdered patina: the sculptures are patined with a first colour and special products, wiped, and finally dried in a drying room
the acid patina: the sculptures are heated, touched with brushes soaked in acid, washed and heated again.
The worker’s talent is extremely important since the sculpture will become browner or lighter depending on: the type and the quantity of acid used, the heating temperature, and how many times it was cleaned.
For the green tones, the patine gives the carving an archaeologic colour.
The fixing of the sculpture to a marble base and electrification
On this page, I would like to thank all the women and men who have worked in Max LE VERRIER’s atelier.
Owing to their skills, composed of natural talent and years of learning, experience, and hard work, they have allowed me to maintain an impeccable quality of execution. They have passed onto me their precious know-how, which allows me to make a difficult but exciting handcraft.
