Styrofoam as a Substitute for Wax in the Sprue Method of Benin Bronze Casting
Njoku Kenneth Iheukwumere *
Department of Fine Arts and Design, Wigwe University Isiokpo, River State. Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The bronze-casting tradition of Benin, founded upon the lost wax (cire perdue) technique of ancient times, remains an important icon of Nigeria's cultural and metallurgical heritage. Material and environmental constraints in modern times have brought about material modifications in the casting technique. In this paper, Styrofoam is explored as a viable alternative to wax in the Benin City bronze casting sprue system. The paper employs studio-based research, results of the experimenter's tests, interview of local casters, and comparative technical investigation to explore the effects of material substitution on form fidelity, burnout efficiency, and quality of the cast. Although Styrofoam offers economic advantage and logistical convenience, it also offers challenges to residue control and aesthetic verisimilitude simultaneously. The paper places this innovation in the context of broader discussions of sustainable practice, material culture, and the flexibility of indigenous artistic processes. Although Styrofoam presents a viable and creative alternative to wax used in the sprue method of Benin bronze casting, its use must be considered in good faith not just its advantages but its drawbacks as well.
Keywords: Benin bronze casting, styrofoam, lost-wax process, material innovation, sprue system