Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: lost-wax casting

Charlemagne founded, during the Saxon Wars, the diocese of Bremen. In 787 Saint Willehad became the first Bishop. He erected the first (wooden) church here in 789. Three years later Saxons attacked Bremen and burned down its timber cathedral. The "new" cathedral, erected by Willehad´s successors burnt down with many buildings around in 1041, due to arson. The cathedral was rebuilt as a pillared basilica. A (still existing) crypt was built under the west part of the nave. The archbishop even brought craftsmen from Lombardy to embellish the cathedral. This may have been expensive, so he tried to be pennywise, by tearing down parts of the fortification and using the stones for the cathedral. This was not wise, as it lead to the return of the Saxons, sacking Bremen and the cathedral in 1064. The cathedral again was rebuilt probably within the 12th century, the lower storeys of the western façade and towers are constructed in Romanesque style. Continuing the construction over the next centuries, the styles changed. What is seen today is largely the result of a reconstruction of the 19th century, after the citizens had decided to restore the cathedral to its medieval glory. The cathedral was reopend in 1901. The former catholic cathedral belongs to the Bremian Evangelical Church. The baptismal font was created around 1230 using the technique of lost-wax casting ("cire perdue"), like the baptismal fonts in Hildesheim and Liege. The volume of the font is one "oxhoft" (similar to "hogshead", "hhd"), what today is 227,4 liters. Four lion-riders support the font, that has a diametre of 95cm.

Charlemagne founded, during the Saxon Wars, the diocese of Bremen. In 787 Saint Willehad became the first Bishop. He erected the first (wooden) church here in 789. Three years later Saxons attacked Bremen and burned down its timber cathedral. The "new" cathedral, erected by Willehad´s successors burnt down with many buildings around in 1041, due to arson. The cathedral was rebuilt as a pillared basilica. A (still existing) crypt was built under the west part of the nave. The archbishop even brought craftsmen from Lombardy to embellish the cathedral. This may have been expensive, so he tried to be pennywise, by tearing down parts of the fortification and using the stones for the cathedral. This was not wise, as it lead to the return of the Saxons, sacking Bremen and the cathedral in 1064. The cathedral again was rebuilt probably within the 12th century, the lower storeys of the western façade and towers are constructed in Romanesque style. Continuing the construction over the next centuries, the styles changed. What is seen today is largely the result of a reconstruction of the 19th century, after the citizens had decided to restore the cathedral to its medieval glory. The cathedral was reopend in 1901. The former catholic cathedral belongs to the Bremian Evangelical Church. The baptismal font was created around 1230 using the technique of lost-wax casting ("cire perdue"), like the baptismal fonts in Hildesheim and Liege. The volume of the font is one "oxhoft" (similar to "hogshead", "hhd"), what today is 227,4 liters. Four lion-riders support the font, that has a diametre of 95cm.

The Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew, was part of a convent, founded outside the city walls of Liège. The building process started in the 11th century. The church got enlarged, altered and modified over the centuries. Inside the Collégiale Saint-Barthélemy, now a parish church, is this baptismal font, a medieval masterpiece and icon of the "mosan art", a Romanesque style, that developed around the Meuse valley. The center was the Bishopric of Liège, but it spread to Aachen (= Aix-la-Chapelle), Maastricht and even Cologne. The font was commissioned around 1107 by Abbé Hellin for the church of Notre-Dame-aux-Fonts, the baptistery of Liege at that time. It was completed by 1118 and is attributed to Renier de Huy, mentioned in a Liège chronicle as "Reinerus aurifaber". This church was destroyed during the French Revolution. At that time the font was hidden. When it was finally moved into the Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew, it was incomplete. The cover and two of the 12 supporting oxen were lost. During the early 12th century the area around the Meuse Valley was known for its metalworks. The technique "Reinerus aurifaber" used here is known as lost-wax casting. The complete font was sculpted in wax first. Two moulds (inner and outer) from refractory clay then cover the wax-model completeley, before hot bronze is poured between the two moulds. The wax melts - and get replaced by the bronze that cools down and hardens.

The Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew, was part of a convent, founded outside the city walls of Liège. The building process started in the 11th century. The church got enlarged, altered and modified over the centuries. Inside the Collégiale Saint-Barthélemy, now a parish church, is this baptismal font, a medieval masterpiece and icon of the "mosan art", a Romanesque style, that developed around the Meuse valley. The center was the Bishopric of Liège, but it spread to Aachen (= Aix-la-Chapelle), Maastricht and even Cologne. The font was commissioned around 1107 by Abbé Hellin for the church of Notre-Dame-aux-Fonts, the baptistery of Liege at that time. It was completed by 1118 and is attributed to Renier de Huy, mentioned in a Liège chronicle as "Reinerus aurifaber". This church was destroyed during the French Revolution. At that time the font was hidden. When it was finally moved into the Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew, it was incomplete. The cover and two of the 12 supporting oxen were lost. During the early 12th century the area around the Meuse Valley was known for its metalworks. The technique "Reinerus aurifaber" used here is known as lost-wax casting. The complete font was sculpted in wax first. Two moulds (inner and outer) from refractory clay then cover the wax-model completeley, before hot bronze is poured between the two moulds. The wax melts - and get replaced by the bronze that cools down and hardens.

The Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew, was part of a convent, founded outside the city walls of Liège. The building process started in the 11th century. The church got enlarged, altered and modified over the centuries. Inside the Collégiale Saint-Barthélemy, now a parish church, is this baptismal font, a medieval masterpiece and icon of the "mosan art", a Romanesque style, that developed around the Meuse valley. The center was the Bishopric of Liège, but it spread to Aachen (= Aix-la-Chapelle), Maastricht and even Cologne. The font was commissioned around 1107 by Abbé Hellin for the church of Notre-Dame-aux-Fonts, the baptistery of Liege at that time. It was completed by 1118 and is attributed to Renier de Huy, mentioned in a Liège chronicle as "Reinerus aurifaber". This church was destroyed during the French Revolution. At that time the font was hidden. When it was finally moved into the Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew, it was incomplete. The cover and two of the 12 supporting oxen were lost. During the early 12th century the area around the Meuse Valley was known for its metalworks. The technique "Reinerus aurifaber" used here is known as lost-wax casting. The complete font was sculpted in wax first. Two moulds (inner and outer) from refractory clay then cover the wax-model completeley, before hot bronze is poured between the two moulds. The wax melts - and get replaced by the bronze that cools down and hardens.