After-Cast

The process of making a cast using a mould taken from a finished sculpture. In sculpture, casting refers to the process of replicating a figure or form from a clay or liquid plaster mould by filling it with self-setting materials such as molten metal, fibreglass, resin or concrete. Moulds can be used to cast sculptures multiple times and after-casts may be considered versions of the sculpture from which the mould was made. After-casts are usually smaller in size as metals shrink upon cooling. An after-cast is often used to make copies of sculptures in bronze and plaster. A bronze after-cast, called a surmoulage, is usually smaller in size as metals shrink upon cooling, while plaster is used when a close replica of the original is desired, often for counterfeiting and forgery. However, after-casts can be easily identified by their size and loss of detail.