Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
Founding; Silverwork; Styrene;
Abstract
The purpose of this thesis was to explore some of the possibilities and limitations of casting items in sterling silver using models made of various types of expanded polystyrene. The text includes historical and background information. Uses made of similar material by sculptors and in industry was discussed. The traditional lost-wax process which was adapted for use with the expanded polystyrene models was explained. It was not the intent of this study to show that expanded polystyrene should replace wax as a model making material nor that it is in any way a superior material to work with. On the contrary, there were several technical problems that needed to be resolved before the materials could be used at all. It was the intent of this study to show that certain textural qualities that could be achieved only with these materials are desirable in contemporary jewelry designs. It also sought to provide insight into ways of utilizing the various types of materials and the textural effects that could be produced from them. It was found that models with highly complex textures could be produced in a spontaneous manner using expanded polystyrene. Each type of plastic foam creates its own unique textural quality, depending upon the treatment given it. Three basic model making methods were explained . The y were; direct heat-application, construction and chemical alteration. Examples of items cast from models made of expanded polystyrene were represented by colored photographs . They include a ring , two goblet stems, a hair ornament and a pendant. The ring was cast using a model made from a strip of pressure formed expanded polystyrene cut from a meat tray. The model for one goblet stem was formed by the direct heat method using strips cut from two coffee cups. The other goblet stem was cast from a model made by heat application using extruded strands of packing material which were heated and wound around a plastic rod. The model for the hair ornament was made from strands of packing material also. In this case the strands were used alone and the heat was controlled in such a way that a different range of textures was produced. The pendant was cast from models made from sections of sewing spools made of compressed pellets of expanded polystyrene. Thin sections of spools were cut and then textured by heat application and chemical alteration using an acetylene-air torch and clear fingernail polish as agents. The links of the chain were assembled after casting. It was the conclusion of the writer that items cast in sterling silver using models made from expanded polystyrene show unique textural characteristics that cannot be achieved in any other way; that these textures are compatable [sic] with current design trends in jewelry; and that the use of these materials can add significantly to the field of jewelry casting.
Year of Submission
1973
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Department of Art
First Advisor
John H. Page
Second Advisor
Erwin Richter
Third Advisor
David D. Delafield
Date Original
1973
Object Description
1 PDF file (49 leaves)
Copyright
©1973 Ardith J. Hoff
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Hoff, Ardith J., "Casting in Sterling Silver Using Models Made From Expanded Polystyrene" (1973). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 2971.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/2971
Comments
If you are the rightful copyright holder of this thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to scholarworks@uni.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL.